Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has expressed satisfaction with the security situation in the state as the people vote to elect their representatives in the state and national legislatures.
The re-run elections were ordered by the court, which cancelled earlier polls held in the 2015 general elections.
Wike voted at Unit 7, Ward 9 in Rumueprikom, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, at 11.57a.m. after going through an accreditation process using the card reader.
He, however, complained of the preparedness of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the elections because of the late arrival of polling materials.
Meanwhile, in Bera community in Khana Local Government Area, some youths prevented INEC officials from distributing election materials on the allegation that the materials were fake.
In the same vein, many voters have commended the electoral process, describing it as hitch-free.
Mr Dagogo Briggs, a 35-year-old teacher and father of four, said the election was a radical departure from the previous one held in 2015.
Briggs made the observation shortly after casting his vote on Saturday at Unit 1 Ward 1 in Abonnema, Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers.
“The Card Reader Machine is working and it recognised my PVC when it was my turn.
“We did accreditation and voted almost immediately and everything went on smoothly.
“The situation is better than what happened in 2015,” he said.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voting commenced in some units in the area at 9.00 a.m.
At Unit 6, Ward 12, Port Harcourt Local Government, Mr Chisom Nwuche, an APC agent, said he was satisfied with the electoral process.
“As you can see, voting has commenced here. It is accreditation and voting at the same time.
“It has made things much easier,” he said.
A PDP agent, Mr Ken Amadi, said he was impressed with the conduct of the election.
Mr Chukwu Rollins, a 59-year-old businessman, said the strategy deployed in the re-run poll was better than that of the 2015 general elections.
“I did accreditation and voting at the same time. We had no problem with the Card Reader Machine. It has made the electoral process here very smooth.
“I suggest that in future elections, INEC should adopt the same method to make its work easier,” he said.
At Unit 5, Ward 15, Port Harcourt Local Government, Mrs Grace Wobo, a 76- year-old retired civil servant, expressed satisfaction with security arrangement at the polling unit.
“I am impressed with the security situation here. INEC has also done well because the process today is faster.
“There is no time wasting while you accredit and vote,” she said.
In Emohua Local Government, voting commenced at 1.00 p.m. in some units at Rumuji, Ibaa and Ogbakiri.
NAN reports that voters conducted themselves in an orderly manner while there was tight security.
DSP Ahmad Muhammad, the Public Relations Officer of the state Police Command, said the Force had not received any adverse report suggesting violence or electoral malpractice. (NAN)
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