Early turnout, swift deployment of materials signal smooth start to Ekiti Governorship poll.
By Dally Iyamu
There was early voter turnout in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday as sensitive election materials were distributed promptly to polling units ahead of the commencement of the Ekiti State governorship election.
At the Registration Area Centre (RAC) located at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School, electoral officials were seen retrieving, sorting and preparing sensitive materials for deployment to polling units across Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area.
The RAC was placed under heavy security, with a strong presence of security personnel deployed to safeguard election officials and ensure the orderly movement of materials to various polling centres.
By 7:15 a.m., voters had begun converging on several polling units across the local government area, awaiting the arrival of electoral officials and materials.
At Polling Unit 9, Ward 11, sensitive materials arrived early, accompanied by National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving as ad hoc electoral officials, while police personnel provided security at the polling centre.
Electoral officers were observed making final preparations for voting, which was scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m.
The early deployment of sensitive materials, coupled with the prompt arrival of voters at polling centres, signalled a positive start to the governorship election in Ado-Ekiti, as residents demonstrated readiness to participate in the democratic process.
However, our correspondent observed a brief delay in the commencement of accreditation and voting due to a malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which was subsequently attended to by election officials.
At Ward 4, Polling Units 1 and 2, located at Saint Michael Primary School, Ijigbo, many voters, including elderly residents, were already on the ground ahead of the scheduled commencement of voting at 8:30 a.m., reflecting widespread enthusiasm for the electoral exercise.
The development underscored the eagerness of residents to participate in the election and the determination of electoral officials to ensure a smooth and credible voting process.
