Presidential Polls: Voting in progress, large turn out

Nigerians are on the queue across the country, casting their vote for a new president.

The three leading candidates – Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and Nuhu Ribadu of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), have voted.

Reports in Lagos, Abuja and across the country, point to a larger turn out of voters than witnessed in last Saturday’s National Assembly polls. But some places still recorded poor voters’ presence.

There were complaints about delayed arrival of voting materials in few others, while some voters complained about missing names.

The voting exercise was preceded by the accreditation of eligible voters in each polling unit.

Counting of votes will take place shortly. Results in each polling unit will be announced and pasted for the public to see.

Jonathan said he hoped a winner would emerge at first ballot because of the huge cost of having a run-off. Buhari was mobbed by a large crowd both during accreditation and voting. Ribadu was up-beat but expressed fear about voter apathy.