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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