Low voter turnout, late arrival of materials mar Kaduna by-election

The Chikun/Kajuru federal constituency by-election in Kaduna state on Saturday recorded low voter turnout.

While the process was generally peaceful, the exercise was characterised by the late arrival of voting materials in several polling units.

Despite the ban on movement, markets and shops remained open, with residents going about their normal activities.

Speaking in an interview, some residents at Sabon Tasha GRA in Chikun LGA said they did not participate in the exercise because they believed their votes would not count.

James Kyauta, a resident of Sabon Tasha GRA, cited his experience during the conduct of LG elections in the state.

“Our experience in voting shows that our votes don’t count. During the last local government elections in Kaduna state, we were still voting when we heard that the result of the election results had been announced,” Kyauta said.

Another resident, Evelyn Galadima, said elections in the state have long been marred by fraud and irregularities, which discouraged her from participating.

Galadima added that the right candidates never won, noting that the process is always characterised by rigging.

The results released by presiding officers in some polling units in Chikun showed the All Progressives Congress (APC) leading the polls.

At Mahuta 1 Rido ward (025), which had 1,282 accredited voters, APC polled 62 votes ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with 26, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) with 11, and one invalid ballot.

At Meyere High Cost (017), APC also came first with 28 votes, while PDP and ADC had four votes each, and the Labour Party (LP) secured five.

The trend was similar at the LEA Primary School in Narayi, where in polling unit 002, APC garnered 26 votes against PDP’s 15, LP’s 10 and ADC’s four.

In unit 024 of the same school, APC led with 44 votes, PDP followed with 33, while LP and ADC had eight and six votes, respectively.