Low Voter Turnout As Election Commences Early In Nassarawa Eggon
Voting has commenced early in the Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections in Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
As at 7am sensitive and non sensitive election materials materials have been sorted out and been distributed to across the 254 polling units in the 14 electoral wards in Nasarawa-Eggon.
Our reporter gathered that, elections started almost the same time across the State, amidst low turn out of voters as compared to the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections.
In most of the local governments, for instance, there are voters apathy, in spite the early delivery of election materials.
Most of the polling units visited including Akuabmeh Galle Polling Unit-021, Kofar Yakubu Adah Polling Unit- 010 and the polling units in the Aren Eggon’s Palace had had low turn out of voters.
Franca Odeh, the presiding officer of RCM primary school polling unit 027, Nasarawa-Eggon, said so far, the election is peaceful and orderly.
Odeh said, materials arrived early and election also commenced, adding that “we are a bit early today and everything is working working fine.”
A voter, Mohammed Maga Sule, who was the first to cast his vote at the polling unit, was accredited and captured by the BVAS, said the challenges experienced during the Presidential and National Assembly elections were probably because it was the first time.
He said, this time around he was able to cast his vote at about 8:15am, as compared to the last election, when the elections started about eight hours behind schedule.
He called on the INEC to improve on the security situation on the election and the way election materials are being distributed.
Also, an observer, Samuel John Magaji, from the Polling Units Ambassador of Nigeria commended INEC for the timely delivery and distribution of election materials to the various Polling Units.
“For the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election, the materials arrived in good time.
“As we arrived the local Collation Center, the materials have been distributed by 7:20am and elections commenced by 8:10am.
“It is peaceful and people are coming out and it is hope that, everything will end well.”
For the low voter turnout, it is still to be seen if voters will troop to their polling units at the later hours.
