Low Voter-Turn Out,  Allegations of Vote-Buying Characterise Kaduna Bye-Election

In Kaduna state, there was low turnout of voters in many polling units during Saturday’s by- election in seven state constituencies.
The constituencies are located in  Chikun, Igabi, Kaduna South, Kudan, Kachia, Kagarko, and Kauru Local Government Areas of the state.
In Angwan Pama, Narayi,  Sabon-Tasha, Maraban Rido and Karji areas  in the Chikun Local Government Area, many polling units were very scanty as only few people came out to vote.

Accreditation by INEC adhoc staff  between 10am to 10:30am in some places.
However, in Kakuri, Makera, Kakuri-Gwari and  Barnanwa areas in  Kaduna South LGA, there were appreciate turnout of voters amid allegations of vote buying by party agents.
In Kakuri Hausa polling unit 0045,  accreditation and voting commenced at about 9:15 am.

Also in Gora ward, Kakuri, voting started at 9am, although
there there  were hitches as one of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System malfunctioned but was the rectified.
At the Barnawa Market polling unit, there allegations of vote-buying by
party agents of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), saying the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state was offering between  N10,000 to N15,000 per vote. 

Veronica Okuna, an agent of the PDP said some APC chieftains were were luring voters aside and paying for their votes.
“There is vote-buying going on by APC members and their agents right at the Barnawa Market road polling units.”
She said, “I went to Maraban Rido and Narayi, the turnout was not much but here the turnout was much because of vote-buying which wasn’t good for our democracy.

“I wish operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are here to see things for themselves.”
However, reacting to the allegation  Aminu Yakubu, an agent of the ruling APC, dismissed the allegation, saying “there was nothing like vote-buying at the polling unit.

“Maybe  it is the PDP that are giving out money for voters to vote for them. They are a drowning party that would hold on to anything to pull the APC down”.
He also condemned vote-buying, saying it is  not good for the nation’s democracy.
The exercise was generally peaceful as no incident of violence or ballot snatching was reported.

John Shiklam

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