Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Polling Unit 097, Aso Estate, and Polling Unit 098, LEA Primary School, Sabon Lugbe, Abuja, have raised concerns over low voter turnout during Saturday’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Area Council elections.
At Aso Estate, Assistant Presiding Officer Clement Adugo said only about 60 of the 900 registered voters had cast ballots by mid-morning.
“The voter turnout is low. Voting started at 10:30 a.m., and while the process has been seamless, only about 60 people have come out to vote so far. The BVAS functioned efficiently, and voters have been very cooperative,” Adugo said.
Similarly, at Sabon Lugbe, an INEC official who requested anonymity reported that fewer than 50 of 715 registered voters had participated. He cited the late arrival of election materials, which reached the polling unit shortly after 11 a.m., as a factor in the delayed start.
“The materials did not arrive until after 11 a.m. because of logistical challenges, but once voting commenced, everything went smoothly. The BVAS system worked excellently,” he said.
Despite low turnout, INEC officials described the exercise as peaceful and orderly, with no incidents of violence reported.
Saturday’s elections are being conducted across the FCT in 2,822 polling units covering 62 wards in six area councils: Abaji, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali.
