By Ikechukwu Nnochiri

ABUJA — The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has raised concerns over late commencement of voting and incidents of vote-buying in the ongoing Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.

In its interim report, the coalition — comprising over 70 civil society organisations advocating credible elections — disclosed that reports from its observers indicated an average poll opening time of 9:15 a.m. in many monitored polling units.

The group also alleged that vote-buying occurred in several locations.

“In a few places, it was done openly in polling units such as PU008, 056, 057 and 058 in Gidan Mangoro Ward of AMAC, where votes were traded for as much as N10,000 each. In some other places, vote-buying was discreet but still observed,” the report stated.

While noting that voting commenced early in some parts of Kwali Area Council, the Situation Room attributed delays in other areas to the late arrival of officials and materials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Observers also reported that some voters struggled to locate relocated polling units, despite text message notifications sent by INEC on the eve of the election.

The coalition commended the performance of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), noting an average one-minute accreditation time in most polling units. However, isolated malfunctions were reported in parts of Gwagwalada and Abuja city centre.

Security presence at polling units was described as significant, with personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Immigration Service and Fire Service. The Situation Room praised their professionalism, even as it cited a few instances of intimidation, which were swiftly contained.

The report also highlighted inadequate deployment of assistive materials for persons with disabilities in several polling units, including Karimajiji.

The statement was jointly signed by the Co-Conveners of the Situation Room, Mma Odi and Celestine Odo.