Voting has begun peacefully in the Babura-Garki Federal Constituency by-election in Jigawa.

Voters have thronged to the polling units as early as 8:00 a.m. amid adequate security presence across the area.

Personnel of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF); Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and others, were seen maintaining law and order at polling units and other strategic locations in Babura and Garki.

At Garki Kofar Fada polling unit (003) and Primary Yawwa (005) in Garki town, election officials were seen preparing election materials for voting to commence as early as 8:30 a.m.

Ibrahim Shehu, polling officer 1 at the polling unit, said they made adequate arrangements to facilitate the smooth conduct of the exercise.

A cross-section of the voters commended the peaceful conduct of the election, adding they would maintain orderliness in the exercise.

The exercise witnessed a high turnout of voters, including the minister of defence, Badaru Abubakar, and Suwaiba Ahmad, minister of state education.

Some residents were also seen going about their normal businesses as the exercise began peacefully in most areas visited.

(NAN)