THERE is relative calmness and an impressive turnout of voters as Nigeria’s presidential and parliamentary elections are held across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Saturday.

The South-West region comprising Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo states have a total of 18,332,191 eligible voters and the 2023 general elections is arguably one of the most anticipated since the country returned to democracy in 1999.

Voting was expected to commence at 8:30 am, but late commencement due to delay in the arrival of officials was widespread in the South-West region and in polling unit 026/Ward 2 in Ifakojaiye Lagos state, accreditation and voting began in the absence of security personnel.

Although in many of the Polling Units monitored voters are expected to join the queue and wait their turn to ensure that the exercise is conducted in an orderly manner, consideration was being given to nursing mothers, the physically challenged and aged.

At PU003/Ward 6 in Osun State, two visually impaired persons successfully cast their votes using the Braille ballot guide for the blind.

Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Bola Tinubu, voted alongside his wife, Remi, and other party chieftains at a polling unit in Bourdillion, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

Tinubu said he was satisfied with the process and that he was “too confident of victory”, adding that “democracy is here to stay”.

Gunshots were reportedly heard around PU002/Ward 04 Atelewo in Olorunda Local Government Area (LGA) of Osun State at about 10:36 am, but it is not immediately clear what triggered that or if anyone was affected.

According to INEC, voting will end at 2:30 pm. However, any voter on the queue before 2:30 pm would be allowed to vote even after the official closing time, as the Commission has assured that no voter would be disenfranchised.