Sultan Shuns Sokoto Guber Election

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa`ad Abubakar, yesterday failed to cast his vote during the gubernatorial election held in Sokoto State yesterday.

Investigations by LEADERSHIP SUNDAY revealed that, at about 1.30pm, the Sultan was neither present for accreditation, which ended at noon nor for the actual voting at the polling unit situated in his palace.

Though accreditation and voting commenced late in many polling units, the conduct was adjudged by observers as peaceful.

The election was, however, marred by low turnout of voters at various polling stations even as prospective female voters outweighed their male counterparts.

Despite the low turnout of voters, the incumbent governor, Wamakko, adjudged the turnout impressive according to an earlier report broadcast from the local radio station.

At Tambuwal polling unit, the speaker of the House of representatives, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, cast his vote at the secondary school, affirming that the peaceful conduct of the election was a manifestation of the people's love for democracy.

He urged the would-be governor to hold the interest of the people as his priority through the provision of community-centred projects and programmes.

However, about 15, 000 security people were deployed to cover the Sokoto governorship race.

The state commissioner of police, Mr Baba Adisa Balanta, told journalists that 5,000 policemen were deployed from six states while 10, 000 civil defence corps members were also mobilized.