BY Ayodele Oluwafemi
President Muhammadu Buhari has voted at his polling unit in Daura, Katsina state for Saturday’s presidential election.
The president voted at polling unit 003, Sarkin Yarn A ward.
Buhari voted alongside Aisha, his wife around 10:06 am.
After voting, the president showed off his ballot papers to the voters around.
Speaking after voting, he asked Nigerians to freely vote for their preferred candidates.
The president said he believes that his constituency would choose Bola Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The ballot papers of the president showed that he voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the three elective positions.
It was not clear whether the president’s decision to show off his ballot papers to voters around his polling unit contravenes the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2022.
Section 50 (1) of the Electoral Act of 2022 states that: (1) Voting at an election under this Act shall be by open secret ballot.
“(2) Subject to section 63 of this Act, voting at an election and transmission of results under this Act shall be in accordance with the procedure determined by the Commission.
“(3) A voter on receiving a ballot paper shall mark it in the manner prescribed by the Commission.
(4) All ballots at an election under this Act at any polling station shall be deposited in the ballot box in the open view of the public.”
The 2023 general election voting procedures released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) state that: “You will go to the voting cubicle to mark your choice on the ballot paper in secret. Ensure the ink does not smear other parts of the ballot paper to avoid your vote being rejected.
“The ballot paper should be folded vertically. You are not allowed to take photograph of the ballot paper when in the voting cubicle. You will drop the marked ballot paper into the ballot box in full view of all present.
“After casting your vote, you are free to remain 300 metres from the polling area to witness sorting, counting and announcement of result, provided you are orderly and do not disrupt the process.”
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