An octogenarian and nursing mothers who turned out on Saturday in Kurudu, Abuja, were given priority to vote in the Presidential and National Assembly elections.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the elderly and nursing mothers arrived the polling centre as early as 7 a.m.
Mama Agatha Moses, 87, said she came out to vote.
”My ward is in Kurudu Primary/Secondary school Centre, PU004. I was ready for the stress of the day to ensure that I cast my vote.
”But the security personnel assisted me to the front to cast my vote. They were so nice to me and others.
”I was given prority to vote so that I can go back home to be taken care of,” she said.
Another voter, Agnes, a teacher, who is a nursing mother said:”I brought my food and baby beacuse I thought that I will be here all day.
”You can see that I have casted my vote and ready to go back home to take care of my baby”.
Another nursing mother, Loretta Aina, said she joined the queue to vote.
”I want to contribute in deciding a leader for my country. I was so nervous at first but I was given priority,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that voters at PU 026, 029 and 031 conducted themselves well.
Voters at some PUs, were seen still taking numbers while waiting anxiously to cast their votes.
Some voters were seen eating snacks and taking drinks and sitting at their PU.
There was heavy presence of security personnel including Police and Civil Defence Corps at strategic locations are well grounded.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 87 million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have so far been collected ahead of the upcoming general elections.
NEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu disclosed this at the maiden briefing for the 2023 elections in Abuja on Thursday.
A breakdown of the figure showed that Lagos leads in the number of collected PVCs with 6,214,970. This is closely followed by Kano with 5,594,193, and Kaduna with 4,164, 473.
He noted that the current voter register has over 94 million voters but stated that the Commission will continue to clean it up with technology going forward.
According to him, of the number, 93.3 percent have collected their PVCs while 6,259,229 cards — which is 6.7 percent of PVCs — are still uncollected.
The INEC chairman further revealed that a total of 1,642,385 polling units and collation center agents of political parties will participate in the elections.
