Governorship/ State Assembly polls peaceful but records low turn out in Minna

Low turn out of voters was recorded in Minna, capital of Niger State like in many other parts of the state during today’s governorship and State House of Assembly election.

The turn out was generally in sharp contrast to the enthusiastic turn out of voters during the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly polls.

However, election process was generally peaceful across the state with little or no threat to voting.

In some polling units visited around Tunga area of Minna metropolis, voters came out as early as 6.30 am, took position and patiently wait for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who were also prompt in arriving their respective units of assignments.

Voting process commenced at exactly 8.00am

At Tunga Market Polling Unit 001, 20 voters have been accredited as at 8.27am while simultaneous accreditation and voting continued.

At Kofar Ubandoma Polling Unit 002, Tundun Wada South local government, voters took position as early as 6.00a after the morning prayers while accreditation started the immediately election officials came at 8.00am.

Also the process went peacefully at all polling units visited along Lagos Street, Minna.

But accreditation and voting was delayed in two polling station units; Makira Hassan Kukuruku Polling Unit 005, and Ansar- Ud-Deen polling unit because few party agents and Voters demanded completed number of voting materials before the process could commence.

At Makira Hassan Kukuruku unit 005, 600 ballot papers were brought to a unit with voting population of 657 voters , which necessitated the demand for the remaining 57 ballot papers before accreditation could commence.

Also at the Ansar-Ud-Deen unit, there was a shortage of 103 ballot papers.

While majority of voters agreed to proceed with the identified inadequacies, those protesting threatened to disrupt the process except voting materials were completed.

The timely Intervention of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Prof Sam Egwu restore normalcy at these units as his appeal soothened frayed nerves and accreditation commenced few minutes before 10.00am.

A short meeting of the REC with heads of security agencies in the state who are members of Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security took place at 10.20 am at the office of the State Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Sabo Umar at the State Police Command.

The combined team; the REC, Police Commissioner, Director DSS, Comptrollers of Nigeria Custom Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prison Service, Commander National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Federal Road Safety Vorps took off with the REC after the meeting to monitor voting processes at a few units within Minna before moving to Shiroro Local Government area.

Places visited by the security Chiefs include Tawali Primary School, Bagajiya polling unit 009 where over 200 voters have cast their votes as at 11.45 am under peaceful arrangement.

There the REC, Prof Egwu and Police boss addressed party agents to move away from voting cubicle to avoid confusing voters on their choice.

Also at a polling unit in Kobwa Primary School, Ubandoma Ward, Kuta inShiroro Local Government, the Police Commissioner addressed the youths against restiveness

The team also visited polling unit 001, Zumba Central Primary School in Zumba village and round off the trip at the CTM polling unit inside the premises of the Shiroro Hydro-Power Dam in Zumba Ward of Shiroro Local Government.

The combined team returned back to the State Police Command at 2.17pm to assess its field experience while the Resident Electoral Commissioner and the media team continue with inspection within the Minna town.

Assessing the situation, Prof Egwu said Niger State was peaceful but there was apathy on the part of voters as witnessed in the smaller number that turn out to exercise their civic rights.

The REC said “Niger State voters have set a record of minimal violence in both elections; February 23 Presidential election and today. I commend them and will ask them to sustain it”.