Kaduna State residents on Saturday complied with the movement restriction imposed by the state government to ensure peaceful and orderly conduct of the local government elections.
The usually bustling streets of Kaduna metropolis were deserted as eligible voters cast their ballots across the state.
Shops and fuel stations were shut to residents.
PUNCH Online reports that the Kaduna State Security Council had announced a restriction of movement from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, October 19, 2024, to prevent potential security breaches.
The commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, had explained that the restriction was necessary to guarantee the success of the elections.
“The restriction of movement is aimed at preventing any individual or group from disrupting the electoral process. We want to ensure that the elections are conducted peacefully and without any incidents,” Aruwan had said.
Residents heeded the warning, staying off the streets while those eligible and willing to exercise their civic responsibility went to their voting centers to cast their votes.
However, some voting centres experienced delays, with officials and materials yet to arrive as of noon.
A troubled voter lamented, “Up till now, no SIECOM officials and voting materials for votes to commence. We have been waiting since morning, and it’s disappointing to see that the officials are not here yet.”
James Alechenu, another voter, expressed frustration over the delay.
“They (SIECOM) know what they are doing. The next thing we will hear is that the ruling All Progressives Congress has cleared all the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.”
Despite these challenges, the elections took place across 255 wards and 23 local government councils.
Road users, especially those travelling from other parts of the state, were stopped and searched by police.
However, there was scant police presence in major areas such as Barnawa, Narayi, and along the Kachia roads.
The elections are crucial for the state’s development, and the government is committed to ensuring their success.
The security situation was generally peaceful, with no major incidents reported.
