Despite the delays in the arrival of election materials, residents of Edo Central Senatorial District, comprising Esan South-East, Igueben and Esan North East, Esan West and Esan Central LGAs, have started coming out to cast their votes.
At Unit 9, boot 9 Dumontan polling unit in Irrua, Esan LGA, voting commenced at about 9:20 am with voters casting their votes in an orderly manner as directed by the INEC as hoc staff on duty.
Some of the voters, including the elderly and the youths were seen conducting themselves in strict adherence to the directive of the security officers on the ground.
However, our correspondent observed a middle-aged man distributing some amount of money to voters after enquiring from them who they voted for.
At the Model Primary Healthcare Centre, Ward 013, Oturuwo Unit 1, voters did not conduct themselves in an orderly manner as the INEC officials had a very hectic time controlling the crowd.
Our correspondent observed that some of the voters expressed dissatisfaction that a particular political party(name withheld), had two party representatives at the booth, whereas other parties had just one.
This caused the voting crowd to become unruly and started protesting as the INEC officials and security operatives on the ground battled to control the crowd.
Various food items were brought to the polling booth and people were sharing the items.
At the polling units visited, BVAS machines were working perfectly and the process was going on smoothly, apart from the skirmishes recorded of voters expressing their anger against a political party having two representatives.
The restriction of movement order was strictly adhered to as security operatives scrutinised and ensured only residents with voter cards made use of the road to their various polling units.