Today, I voted at my polling unit in Dutse Alhaji under the Bwari Area Council in the FCT Area Council elections, and the experience left me thoughtful.
I arrived a little after 10 a.m., and to my surprise, the environment was unusually calm. It almost felt as though nothing significant was happening. Unlike previous elections where the atmosphere was crowded and energetic, this time the turnout was noticeably low. Out of 133 registered voters in my unit, only 14 people showed up to cast their votes.
Despite the low turnout, the process was completely peaceful. Security personnel were present, but they had virtually nothing to do. There was no tension, no conflict, and no disruption of any kind. It was 100% calm.
I collected both the Chairman and Councillorship ballot papers and voted for the candidates of my choice without any interference.
There was no harassment, no intimidation, and no pressure from anyone. Political party agents conducted themselves responsibly they did not attempt to influence voters, and there was no sign of vote buying. Everyone was allowed to make their choice freely.
One of the highlights for me was the professionalism of the electoral officers (INEC ad hoc staff). They were transparent in everything they did. They openly displayed each step of the process, and after voting concluded, we watched as the results were entered and transmitted online in our presence. It gave a sense of credibility and openness to the exercise.
Interestingly, APGA won the Councillorship election in my polling unit. In a time when many believe everyone has aligned with the ruling party, this result was a reminder that people still have independent minds and will vote for who they truly prefer even without inducement or heavy spending.
From what I witnessed in my unit, it is clear that when elections are allowed to be free and fair, people can regain trust in the electoral process.
My only hope is that the results remain intact through the collation process and are not altered at the collection center.
Overall, it was a quiet election day but a credible one.
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