In Kaduna State, there was a low turnout of voters in Saturday governorship and state House of Assembly elections compared to the impressive turnout recorded during the presidential and National Assembly elections two weeks ago.
Areas where the turnout was particularly low were Television Road, Sabon-Tasha and parts of Barnawa. Aside Barnawa, the other areas are dominated by Christians and are strongholds of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party.
Our correspondent observed many of the residents relaxing in front of their houses without bothering to go out for accreditation.
Whereas in areas such as Ungwan Sarki, Ungwan Shanu, Ungwan Rimi, Kawo, Sabon Gari and Tudun Wada, the turnout of voters was better compared to the southern part of the state.
The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in the state, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, attributed the poor turnout to an alleged threat by the PDP to cause chaos in the state.
Meanwhile, Governor Mukhtar Yero shortly after accreditation in Zaria told his supporters and the entire people of the state to accept the outcome of the elections.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after casting his vote, el-Rufai said the electorates were afraid to show up at their polling units because of the alleged threat.
The former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, who was accredited at about 9.55am, also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the improvement on the Presidential and National Assembly elections, noting that accreditation commenced on Saturday.
El-Rufai expressed satisfaction with the use of the card readers, which he described as effective.
On the possible outcome of the elections, el-Rufai said the APC had a wide acceptance in the state, adding that the people’s will would prevail at the end of the day.
Yero, on his part, commended the peaceful conduct of the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in the state.
He called on the people of Kaduna State to shun violence and remain calm throughout the voting process.
Yero, who spoke shortly after casting his vote at Kaura Ward in Zaria, described the peaceful electioneering process in the state as a demonstration of the democratic maturity of the people.
“We are happy that majority of our people have embraced democracy as a preferred system of governance and we shall continue to encourage them through responsible leadership,” he said.
The governor was accredited at 11:24am and subsequently voted at 2:54pm at the Kwankira Polling unit, Kaura Ward, Zaria Local Government Area.
Similarly, Vice President Namadi Sambo, who arrived his polling unit for accreditation at around 11am alongside his wife, Hajia Amina Sambo, commended the process.
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