There is a large turnout of voters in Mafa, the hometown of Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno, as accreditation and voting in the governorship/state assembly elections start.

Mafa is the headquarters of the Mafa Local Government Area of Borno, about 35km from Maiduguri, the state capital.

A correspondent monitoring the exercise in Mafa reports that accreditation and voting started on time in most polling units in the town.

Some voters who spoke to journalists said the turnout was unprecedented compared to the last election because of improved mobilisation.

A resident, Bulama Abubakar, said after casting his vote that ”we trooped out to cast our votes in support of our son, Prof. Zulum, because he is seeking re-election.”

He commended the early arrival of officials and election materials at many polling units, which he said was a big improvement to the February 25 presidential and National Assembly elections.

Also, Aisha Modu and Mustafa Lawan said the large turnout was solidarity for “their son.”

However, a correspondent who also monitored the exercise in Jere Local Government Area reports that many voters were still waiting for officials and materials in some polling units in the area.

“It is already 9:30 a.m., but we are still waiting for the officials to come,” said Abubakar Ibrahim, a voter at a polling unit in the Mairi ward of Jere LGA.

(NAN)