The electorate within Orozo ward of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) today shunned the council election which was conducted to elect new chairmen and councilors for the six area councils of the Nigerian capital territory.

News Express correspondent, who monitored the election within Orozo Ward comprising Jikwoyi, Kpeyegyi, Kurudu, Orozo and Karshi satellite towns and villages saw people going about their normal businesses. Markets were also opened as people transacted freely without any harassment from security operatives.

Our correspondent who went round even without showing his identity card was neither accosted by security operatives nor harassed by anybody.

Some of the residents who spoke with News Express claimed no knowledge of the exercise as they expressed shock, saying that they were not aware that any election was scheduled for today. At the Arm Post Housing Estate, Kurudu, people gathered near a polling unit, eating and drinking.

News Express equally visited to some polling unit and noticed that election materials arrived late at those polling stations.

The situation was no different in Lugbe, especially the FHA estate as residents went about their normal businesses like opening their supermarkets and hair salons. Many said they did not know the candidates.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had noted yesterday that publicity about the election was at a very low ebb. According to the NBA: “A brief survey carried out by our team shows that out of 10 FCT residents asked about the upcoming elections only three are aware of it. This scenario is not encouraging on the part of INEC, political parties and other stakeholders.”

However, NBA Chairman, Gwagwalada Branch, John Amokaha, told our correspondent in a telephone interview that at Kwali Area Council, where he monitored election on behalf of the Abuja lawyers, the turnout was impressive.

Amokaha however disclosed that electoral officers arrived voting venues late with the electoral materials.

“Our monitoring team had to convey security agents who were stranded to various polling units,” he revealed.

•Photo courtesy icirnigeria.org shows balloting in progress during an election in Nigeria.

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