Some residents of Gombe metropolis have expressed joy over the peaceful conduct of the ongoing Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election.

The voters also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for making adequate arrangements to ensure a credible and hitch-free exercise.

A cross-section of the voters said this in separate interviews with journalists in Gombe on Saturday.

Buhari Ibrahim, a voter, said that the professionalism displayed by the election and security officials resulted in the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

Mr Ibrahim, a physically challenged person, described the process as “seamless and peaceful.”

He said that he didn’t feel discriminated against at any point as a physically challenged person in the process of voting.

Corroboratively, Dalhatu Boderi said that the process was hitch-free and successful.

“The atmosphere is peaceful, the turnout in this polling unit is impressive and everything is going on well as expected.”

Mr Boderi commended the youths for conducting themselves peacefully while expressing optimism as that the 2027 general elections would be peaceful and successful.

Maryam Salisu, a voter at the Yakub Hassan Polling Unit, said that she was encouraged to come out because of the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

She commended INEC and security agents while urging them to replicate the feat in the 2027 general elections so that more female voters could come out to exercise their franchise.

Another voter, Zaliha Garba, lauded the process, adding that women were no longer taking the backseat when it comes to exercising their franchise.

“We realised that women are critical stakeholders in determining who rules us so we are now embracing the process,” she said.

Rear Adm. Jamila Mailafa (rtd), INEC National Commissioner in charge of the North-East, however, decried the low voter turnout observed in the exercise.

“I am here to observe the election going on in Bauchi and Gombe States.

“The election process is seamless, the environment is peaceful, people are out in some places but from my observation, there is a low turnout of voters.

“Voting starts at 8.30 am, but voters were just few in most of the polling units I visited.

“Her I can see a lot of voters, probably they are just coming out. I think they are just taking their time. Both the electoral officers and BVAS machines are working as expected,” she said. 

(NAN)