By Usman Shuaibu
The turnout of voters in many parts of the Area Councils which included the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Gwagwalada Area Council, Kwali, Kuje Abaji and Bwari Area Councils could be judged as huge.
Residents, both the aged and young trooped out in large numbers as early as 8:am to cast their votes.
Many of them waited patiently till the voting period and the time results were released in their units before leaving.
It was observed that the accreditation was delayed in some of the polling units visited.
A cross section of voters and political officeholders who spoke to Peoples Daily during the election commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the smooth conduct of the elections across the Area Councils.
They described elections as the most peaceful ever witnessed in the area councils.
From Madam Mercy Polling unit 001 Dagiri in Gwagwalada Area Council where one Mr Ogbonna Samuel voted, he described the conduct of the election as credible, free and fair.
Samuel applauded INEC for providing enough materials at the various polling units as he rated the turnout of voters as 95 percent.
Meanwhile, some of the voters who trooped out to vote in Angwan Dodo in Gwagwalada did not hide their feelings that they wanted cash rewards from political parties before casting their votes.
Residents who came out en masse to vote at Angwa Dodo primary school polling unit were fighting themselves over the money given to them.
In an interview with newsmen during the election, the Chairman of APC in the FCT, Alhaji Abdulmalik Usman expressed joy over the turnout of voters.
Abdulmalik hailed the residents for waiting patiently to vote for the candidates of their choice at their respective area councils in the territory.
Also speaking the Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada Area Council, Hon. Abubakar Jibrin Giri, expressed dismay at the manner at which the machines were rejecting the people during the voting.
Giri pledged to focus on the empowerment of the youths / women if sworn-in into the office.
Chairman-elect of Gwagwalada polled 11, 125 votes to defeat the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Kasim Mohammed Ikwa, who scored 9,597 votes.
In Kwali, the incumbent Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Hon. Danladi Chiya was re-elected and promised to provide purposeful leadership for the people of Kwali.
In a similar development, the incumbent Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged the winner against the APC Candidate, Hon. Hamid Sarki.
However, in Abuja Municipal Area council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zaka from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was elected as the Chairman of the Area Council.
During the election at Orozo in AMAC, a Hilux van was burnt and a middle-aged man was massacred.
The Bwari Area Council, Hon. John GabayaShekwoGaza from PDP, emerged as the Chairman of Bwari Area Council for the second term in the office, while APC took over the leadership of Abaji Area council as the Executive Chairman.
The Returning Officers, who announced the results of the elections in the six (6) Area Councils expressed satisfaction over the peaceful manner of the polls across the Area Councils.
Meanwhile, it was observed that the security agencies were going round for the monitoring of the elections exercise.
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