Abuja Nigeria – voting has officially begun across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as millions of registered voters cast their ballots in the Area Council elections in all six local government areas of the territory, election officials and media reports say. The exercise marks a major grassroots democratic process with strong participation from residents across the capital region.

Voters started turning up at polling units early Saturday morning with observers reporting orderly queues forming in places such as Kuje Area Council where accreditation and balloting are in full swing. Polling officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have begun attending to electorates and processing votes in designated polling centres across Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, Kwali and Abaji.

Security agencies including the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) are on the ground to support a peaceful voting environment. The NSCDC has warned its officers to maintain professionalism and avoid accidental discharges while deployed to secure polling units across the territory.

INEC says more than 1.5 million voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are expected to take part in electing six Area Council chairmen and 62 councillors today. The commission has also received and pre-positioned sensitive election materials under tight security to ensure all polling units are supplied ahead of the 8:00 a.m. opening time.

Movement restrictions announced by the FCT Police Command remain in place with a 12-hour ban in effect until 6:00 p.m. today, with exceptions granted for essential service providers and accredited election officials to help maintain order during the polls.

Observers and election monitors have called for calm and peaceful conduct throughout the day as voters exercise their civic rights in what is seen as both a test of grassroots democracy and an important indicator for future electoral processes in Nigeria.