Adamawa Records Peaceful, Fair & Impressive Governorship Poll

…Observers, INEC, ACN Say Turn Out Impressive, Process Free And Fair

… Huge Security Presence Statewide; Under-Aged Voters Seen Participating

YOLA, February 04, (THEWILL) - Adamawa State witnessed an impressive voter-turnout in Saturday’s Governorship election conducted amidst very tight security presence statewide.

THEWILL gathered from representatives of the electoral commission, police, observers and political parties that the election was free, fair and peaceful statewide, though there were reports that some under-aged voters participated in the election.

Returning officers for the election are expected to submit audited results to the INEC office in Yola as early as Sunday morning.

There are three (3) main contending political parties in the election –ACN, CPC and the PDP. Early results from some wards showed the 3 main parties recording impressive numbers.

Police spokeswoman, ASP Altine Daniels said, the command did not receive any report of violence or ballot box snatching from the 19 local government councils in the state. She attributed the peaceful conduct of the exercise to the strong security presence during the election.

In his assessment, the National Coordinator of the Independent Election Monitoring Group, IEMG, Barrister Festus Okoye, said the turnout of the voters was impressive, adding that the election was free and also fair.

He commended security agencies for providing adequate security, which he said, encouraged voters participate in the process.

The Adamawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Barrister Kassim Gaidam, said the February 4th Governorship electoral process recorded a significant improvement from the April 2011 general elections.

The Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, returning officer for Yola North, John Tarry, scored the election process high. “Saturday’s exercise was free, fair and transparent,” he said, while commending INEC for a job well done.