2023 Election: INEC has dramatically advanced – Catholic Priest

A Catholic Priest, Very Rev. Fr. Solomon Ukeyima has hailed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the conduct of the governorship and house of assembly polls in Benue.

Ukeyima who voted at the NKST Primary School polling Unit in Makurdi on Saturday, told newsmen that INEC has “improved tremendously” on the conduct of the polls.

He said the electoral body has greatly improved in terms of the early arrival of election materials and smooth commencement of the polls in the state.

The priest said it was a significant improvement to what was recorded during the Feb. 25 elections.

“There have been tremendous improvement on the part of INEC on the conduct of the polls so far.

“This is because about this time during the last elections we were yet to start voting, but today when I came the same time I discovered that many people had voted.

“This means that the officials came on time, voting started on time and all electoral materials are available. So I think they have improved so much from what we had in the previous elections.”

He said both the election officials and the electorate should allow the system to work.

“I expect the officials to continue to be transparent to the very end, the electorate too should be patient and exercise their franchise.

“So that at the end of the day, they will say that they have contributed in bringing somebody who will help shape the future of our state and the society at large,” the cleric said.

Ukeyima also urged the people to remain peaceful and vote candidates of their choice devoid of any influence.

“I have always told people to vote content and not containers, they should vote according to their conscience and not political affiliations.

“They should vote those they think will safeguard their today and tomorrow,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that voting commenced in many polling units in Makurdi between 8:30 and 9am with little complaints.

NAN reports that at Bebe Abia polling unit, though voting was ongoing, the Presiding Officer, Mr Sylvester Bolo said the ink pad was not good enough and has alerted the Ward Supervisor to replace it.

NAN reports that the exercise was generally very peaceful amidst low turnout of voters in areas visited.