Akwa Ibom state governor, Udom Emmanuel has hailed improved conduct of elections by Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in the country using smart card readers.
Emmanuel stated this while speaking with journalists in Awa Iman, his country home in Onna local government area of the state after voting at Town Hall, Awa Iman, unit 001.
The governor who voted at 9.20 a. m on Saturday during the Governorship/House of Assembly elections lauded INEC for introducing the machines to forestall massive rigging.
Emmanuel, however, commended the people for turning out in large numbers to vote for their governor and member to represent them in the state House of Assembly.
Though he was unable to comment on alleged rigging levelled against some INEC officials in the state, he said he was yet to get the preliminary report on the situation of things.
Our reporter who covered the area said there was large turn out of voters at different polling units.
It is further gathered that the huge presence of security men particularly soldiers in the state as erroneously propagated by some political jobbers to instill fear in and discourage voters from coming out to perform their civic duty was a farce.
From Uyo, Nsit Ibom, Etinan to Onna local government areas, neither soldiers nor policemen were seen at the polling units.
However, the elections in the areas were generally peaceful as voters formed long queues at different units to exercise their franchise.
