Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alongside security personnel, arrived early at polling units in Bwari Area Council on Saturday for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) area council elections.

However, voter turnout remained low in the early hours of accreditation.

At Sagwari Extension, near Customary Court Security Gate I and II in Dutse Alhaji — a polling location with about 600 registered voters — polling officials and security operatives were already on ground by 7:30 a.m. As of that time, no voter or party agent had been sighted.

Residents in the area were observed moving about freely and conducting their normal business activities without disruption.

At Sagwari Primary School, Dutse Makaranta, which houses about five polling units, INEC officials arrived a few minutes before 8:00 a.m. Officials of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) were also present, alongside other security operatives.

A few voters and party agents were sighted at the polling centre.

At Polling Unit 056, Sagwari Baupma Village, Sagwari Primary School II — with 507 registered voters — a presiding officer told The Guardian that election officials arrived at about 7:00 a.m., but no voter had turned up as of 8:40 a.m.

Similar scenes of early deployment of electoral officials and security personnel, coupled with low voter turnout, were observed across other polling units visited within the area.