Charles Ode (Abuja), Joshua Ikhonede, Adeola Olawuyi (Ekiti)
Most
voters stayed away from the polls today as Nigerians across the country cast
their votes to elect 29 state governors and members of House of Assembly in 36
states.
Voters
apathy was also witnessed in the Federal Capital Territory where election was
held into the four Area councils.
The
low voter turnout was, however, complemented by the peaceful nature of the
exercise, even in the states where violence was recorded in the last
Presidential and National Assembly elections.
Reports
from across the states indicate that the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) were better prepared for today’s election as voting materials
and officials arrived their stations on time and the controversial card reader
working perfectly.
Federal Capital Territory
The Gubernatorial, House of Assembly and FCT area councils elections on Saturday witnessed low turnout at the various polling units across Ekiti and Abuja Municipal Area Council.
KAFTANPOST correspondents, who visited some polling units in the areas, reports that the turnout was low compared to the Presidential and National Assembly elections
held on Feb. 23.
At the Polling unit 001, Life
camp Abuja, KAFTANPOST correspondent, Charles Ode, witnessed the official opening of the polling unit at few minutes past 8am. Before then, the INEC Adhoc Staff were prepared for election but turnout was abysmally low. We even
saw people playing football nearby the polling unit.
Some of the respondents who spoke to our correspondent attributed it to the outcome of the presidential
election, in which according to some did not favour them.
Some said it is usually the experience when it comes to Municipal elections in FCT people do not
participate as fully as the Presidential election.
The ban on vehicular
movement was not enforced as strictly compared to the Feb 23,2019 elections as
we observed movements. Even few painted taxis and tricycles were going about their daily business as if there was no restriction movement in place.
The same scenario also played out at EFAB, Lokogoma and Arts & Culture areas in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the FCT as many eligible voters who spoke to
our correspondents say they have a good reason for not participating in the March 9 elections.
The residents said they did not need to vote because they did not know the candidates contesting for
AMAC officials.As a result of the low turnout and apparent disinterest, some shops around the area were opened for business.
One of the residents, who spoke to KAFTANPOST, said they have decided to go about their normal businesses because they needed to protect
their own interests too. According to him, people like him believe those
contesting are also working for their businesses.
“I don’t know the contestants. So, how do I know who to vote for?” he demanded. When
asked if he voted in the presidential elections, he replied in the affirmative.“I knew
that Buhari and Atiku were contesting. They went everywhere to campaign.
So, I
voted for the person I knew.”
Enugu State
Kano State
State governor, Umar Ganduje, commended the exercise.Although
analysts are predicting a very tight race, the pendulum of victory is expected
to swing in favour of Dr. Ganduje of the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Kaduna State
Most voters experienced joy at the peaceful
nature of the exercise and prayed for good leaders to emerge.
Rivers State
In Rivers
state, attempts by some people identified as thugs to disrupt the voting
process and intimidate voters in Asari Toru local government area of the state
failed to scare away the voters who came out to exercise their rights.
At Ward 1, a Dynamite explosion aimed at driving fear into the people’s mind did not prevent voters from thronging to the polling unit.
Ekiti State
As the 2019 general election draws to a close in Ekiti State, Low voter turnout were experienced at several local governments in Ekiti State as citizens elects their representatives in the state house.Observers and electorate blamed this on the ignorance of people towards the efficiency of representatives as well as poor performances by past representatives.
Some of the local governments where these were experienced are Ado Ekiti, Ikere Ekiti, Afao Ekiti amongst others.On the other hand, INEC officials had been on ground with all electoral materials by 7am and voting commenced by 8am in almost all polling units we covered.
According to pastor Alade Moses, an observer and NYSC Local Government inspector who spoke to our correspondents, Joshua Ikhonede and Adeola Olawuyi, voter turnout across the state have been very poor and discouraging despite the good conduct and safety of the elections.
