Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) traders on Tuesday elected new market officials in their first-ever use of electronic voting, marking a shift from the manual system that had long been criticised for irregularities.
The poll drew strong participation despite initial resistance to the process. About 502 traders were accredited, while 392 cast their votes.
Security presence was heavy, with personnel from multiple agencies deployed due to tensions surrounding the election.
Chair of the AMAC Electoral Committee, Rosemary Etta Ebuta, said the process was widely seen as free and credible. She noted that the electronic system was introduced to address post-election disputes and allegations of rigging that had characterised previous polls.
“The process can hardly be manipulated. In the past, elections here often ended in disputes, but this system reduces that risk,” she said, adding that persuading traders to adopt the new method was the main challenge.
Several traders echoed the view that the new system was an improvement on past exercises.
One voter, who identified himself as a jewellery dealer, recalled that previous elections often ran late into the night and were prone to disruptions, including power cuts and ballot box snatching.
A chairmanship candidate, William Igwe, also expressed confidence in the process, describing it as smooth from accreditation to voting.
Although an observer raised concerns about vote buying and voter pressure, many traders dismissed the claims.
One voter, Galaxy Michael, said traders were focused on electing leaders who would address longstanding issues such as poor roads, lack of parking space and weak market organisation.
At the end of the exercise, Prince Ayodele won the chairmanship with 198 votes, prompting celebrations among supporters.
The elected officials are to serve a two-year term.
