Election: Low turnout of voters in 3 Plateau LGAs, Ilasamaja
By Thompson Yamput
Apathy
Mangu (Plateau) March 9, 2019 (NAN) Voter apathy greeted Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in parts of Plateau Central Senatorial District on Saturday at polling units, especial in Mangu, Pankshin and Kanke Local Government Areas.
Ms Serah Yangkul, an election observer with Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA), described the apathy that greeted the exercise as “very high” while speaking with journalists.
“The voter turnout we are witnessing today is very low compared to the large and huge turnout we witnessed during that of the Presidential and National Assembly elections, ” Yangkul said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most of the polling units visited in these areas witnessed very low turnout of the electorate.
In some polling units in Panyam, Kereng, Pushit in Mangu and Vel, Pankshin Central, Jing and Willis polling units in Pankshin Local Government Area turnout were very poor.
“The usual high spirit that voters had in last election is absent in this governorship election.
“The people who came home for that election did not come again and even the villagers are no more keen coming out for the polls, “Frida Litman, a Presiding Officer in Pankshin said.
At Kanke, a voter, Mr John Kangke of Pan African Youth Enlightenment, an NGO, told NAN that the electorate were disenchanted over the outcome of Feb. 23 polls.
She described the low turnout as “bad for our democracy.
“What we noted right from Jos-Bukuru metropolis to Plateau Central is the heavy presence of security personnel,” he said.
However, Mr Emmanuel Mbok, Deputy Chairman, Pankshin Local Government Area said the turnout in some polling units was encouraging.
Mbok said that all security arrangements were made to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.
NAN reports that the conduct of the electorate was peaceful and accreditation and voting were smooth and hitch-free.
Barkin Acha Pollin Unit, 019B-M-2, Rantya, Jos South LGA, witnessed low voter turnout compared to the presidential and NASS polls.
A party agent for ANN, Hoshen Solomon, told NAN that the low turnout owed to the morale of the electorate who claim that their votes did not count in the presidential/NASS polls.
He however said the elections were hitch-free and that security agents were not stationed there but drive-in and out as they monitored the exercise.
An electorate, Rodzin Kuptong told NAN that it took him just five minutes for accreditation and voting.
Another electorate, Ian Longpuan at Ward 15 State Low Cost also told NAN that upon arrival, he did his civic duty in just five minutes due to the apathy as there was no queue. (NAN)
Similar atmosphere prevailed in Ward F2 in the 020, 019 and 018 polling units at the Oshodi-Isolo Local Governments of Lagos state.
According to INEC ad hoc staff voters, the situation is quite different from compared to the presidential elections of Feb. 23 which witnessed high turnout of voters.
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Funmi Bankole, an ad hoc staff for INEC said that the turnout was very low and since the voting started at 9.00 a.m it had been very slow.
“The queue is scanty and people have decided to stay away perhaps because of fear of violence or intimidation,” Bankole said. (NAN)
Reporters/DUA
Edited by Dada Ahmed