Residents of Borno State cast their votes on Saturday in local government chairmanship and councillorship elections, despite the absence of major opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the African Democratic Congress, ADC, from the ballot.
Voting, which began at 8:30 am, was observed at polling centres across Konduga Local Government Area and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, where journalists reported a peaceful and orderly exercise.
Six political parties are participating in the election: the All Progressives Congress, APC; Boot Party; Labour Party, LP; Peoples Redemption Party, PRP; New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP; and the Social Democratic Party, SDP.
The PDP had earlier announced its withdrawal on Friday, citing a lack of trust in the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission, BOSIEC, and the high cost of expression of interest and nomination forms.
Voters interviewed at polling units in Konduga described the exercise as peaceful and orderly, commending electoral officials for their professionalism.
However, a voter in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council called for clearer communication regarding movement restrictions during the elections.
