Alhaji Umar Bago, the APC Governorship candidate for Niger has urged the people of Bida to come out in mass and exercise their franchise.
Bago made the call after casting his vote at polling unit 011 in Tswashagi Raba, Bida Local Government Area at about 10.10 a.m.
He told newsmen that the election was peaceful, transparent, free and fair.
He commended INEC and the officials for early arrival of electoral materials, describing it as a very good development.
Bago expressed gratitude to the voters for their peaceful conduct, attributing the large turnout in the area to awareness creation.
He enjoined them to be patient, law-abiding and respect constituted authority in the interest of peace and national development.
The governorship candidate commended security agents for maintaining law and order, and urged them to continue to be civil in their approach.
He said INEC had corrected the lapses witnessed in the past elections, saying his accreditation was done within few minutes due to the efficiency of the newly introduced BVAS machine.
“The process of accreditation was very efficient and smooth; I am impressed with the general conduct of the election.”
Bago also lauded his constituents for being orderly during the exercise, urging them to tolerate one another, irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations to sustain existing peace during and after the elections.
Elections in most of the polling units visited witnessed large turnout of voters.
The voting is in progress and in an orderly and peaceful manner.
