From Maiharaji Altine
The Saturday local government election in Zamfara State has recorded very low participation as the electorates deserted polling units, leaving the electoral officers alone with election materials.
Investigations conducted by Analyzer news have shown that, although the electoral officers arrived at their polling centres on time, only few people were seen in lines waiting to cast their votes.
People were going about their businesses as if nothing was taking place unlike the previous elections where people reported to their polling centres on time to avoid overcrowding.
Findings have gathered that, the refusal of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) to participate in the election was one of the major factors that have greatly hindered the participation of the electorates.
Another reason for the low turnout was the security situation in the state, as bandits were all over the state, looking for who to kidnap.
Speaking to Analyzer news, a shop owner, Ibrahim Idris who was comfortably busy in his shop said he had no time to waste as according to him, the election has since been concluded.
He said, “Why should I waste my time to cast my vote when I know that, they (government) have already decided on who will win the election”.
“I decide to be in my shop because I know that, the local government elections in every state do not favor the opposition”.
Another politician who gave his name as Sani Garba said it was of no use going for the elections’.
“There will be no justice in the steps taken by the Zamfara state Independent Electoral Commission (ZASIEC) in announcing the winners of the elections of the candidates happen to be from the opposition parties”.
”I don’t want to waste my time, after all, the list of winners is already there waiting for announcement even before closing time”.
Addressing journalists, the spokesperson of the opposition APC, Yusuf Idris said, his party decided not to participate in the election because of none compliance of the electoral laws by the state’s Independent Electoral Commission.
Idris maintained that, the state’s electoral commission has violated all the electoral laws, as such his party (APC) has since dragged the commission to court to stop the elections.
“We have since filed our case to the Federal High Court here in Gusau to challenge the legality of the elections.
Governor Dauda Lawal who cast his vote at Women Center Polling unit expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
On the issue of none participation in the elections by the opposition APC, Governor Lawal said, nobody would be forced to take part in the election.
The Governor maintained that, there were other parties who have chosen to go for the elections and those who chose not to participate have their own reasons for doing so.
“I am impressed by the turn out of voters and I am also happy that the elections are going on smoothly”.
