Voters, accredited observers and party agents have decried low turnout of voters in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Karu Local Government Area (LGA) of Nasarawa State.
Pastor Johnson Echina, Senior Pastor, Ark of Resurrection Power International Gospel Church, New Karu, Nasarawa State, said many people did not come out to vote because they had lost confidence in the electoral process.
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Echina who voted at PU028 at Ta’al Model e-library, Karu Panda, Karu ward, Karu LGA, said “what we witnessed in today’s election is a reflection of the outcome of the Feb. 25 elections.
“As you can see, majority didn’t turn out in spite of effort put in place to sensitise people but they still refused to come out and vote.
“The general opinion of people now is that, they feel their votes don’t count anymore.
“Nigeria leaders are not ready to allow the right things to be done.
So, they feel there is no need coming out to be part of the governorship and state assembly elections.
“Although, those contesting have put in their effort to campaign, we were expecting pressure during the election but surprisingly, no pressure because a lot of voters didn’t come out to vote,” Echina said.
He encouraged INEC and political leaders to use the state elections to correct the impression of the youth on the electoral process.
“INEC has disappointed Nigerians in time past particularly at the Feb 25, presidential election. They should do the right thing this time around.
“Whatever is the number of voters that voted today, the right thing should be done because right now, youths have given up on the system.
“Whosoever emerged the winner should be declared winner.”
He also urged political leaders to allow the right thing to be done adding, “they should be less desperate about their desire to become leaders by all means.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that at PU 004 with total registered voters of 1,691 at Ta’al Model e-library, Karu Panda, Karu ward, the Presiding Officer, Memory Audu, said only about 200 registered voters had voted as at 1.04 pm.
“We opened the polling unit at exactly 8.30a.m but no voter came for accreditation until few minutes to 9a.m,” Audu said.
Also at PU028 at Ta’al Model e-library, Karu Panda, Karu ward, Karu LGA, only 124 out of 759 registered voters so far voted as at 12:05pm.
Mrs Gladis John, a voter at PU028, Ta’al Model e-library, Karu Panda, Karu ward, Karu LGA, decried the low voters turnout in the election.
“The process of the election today is seamless but people are not out because we are not sure our vote will count.
“I am not surprised that people didn’t come out to vote because our vote is not counting.
“I just came out to vote because my husband persuaded me to come and vote. I have voted to clear my conscience. I hope it will also count this time around.” she said.
At PU 040, New Nyanya Police Statation, Karu, only 124 out of 750 registered voters have voted as at the time the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), visited the polling unit.
The PU Presiding Officer, Olamileka Olajuwon, said aside the low turnout, the election had been peaceful.
“We opened the polling units on time and the BVAS has been working perfectly and no complain so far,” Olajuwon said.
The All Progressives Ground Alliance party agent, Mrs Blessings Paul, said the low turnout may be due to what was witnessed in the last presidential election.
Paul said the turnout would have been better if the political party leaders did enough sensitisation work before the Election Day.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP) agent at PU 096 Angwa Makama Masaka, Anania Adeamba, said voting process at the PU had been peaceful but the turnout was low.
He said the turnout was not encouraging because what happened in the last national elections gave a negative impression on the system.
NAN reports that as at 2:00 pm at the PU 096 in Angwa Makama Masaka, Karu LGA, 141 voters had been accredited out of 750 registered voters.
Also at PU142, Angwa Gede, Masaka, Opposite Coca-Cola, Karu LGA, 221 have voted out of 750 registered voters at the PU were accredited as at 2:10 pm.
(NAN)
