Voter Apathy, Late Arrival Of Materials Mar LG Polls In Jigawa

Voter apathy and late arrival of election materials to polling units largely affected the conduct of the ongoing October 5, 2024 local government elections in Jigawa State.

At most of the polling units visited by LEADERSHIP, the turnouts of voters were very low while voting did not commence as of 10am due to late delivery of election materials.

However, there was increased turnout observed by noon in some polling units.

The elections were also being conducted peacefully across all the 27 local government areas of the state.

In Jahun local government local government area, election commenced very early at some pooling units, as some residents claimed to have cast their votes as early as 09 am.

Jigawa State governor, Malam Umar Namadi commended the voters for their turnout and peaceful conduct of the campaign and election exercise.

The governor stated this shortly after casting his vote at Imam Hassan Polling Unit, Kafin Hausa local government area.

Governor Namadi described the peaceful conduct of the exercise was a clear demonstration of the confidence the people of the state have in democracy and the State Independent Electoral Commission.

While speaking to newsmen, former Chairman of Dutse local government, Hon Abdulaziz Dankofa complained that as at 09:30am, the election materials were not delivered to any polling unit in Madobi and Kudai wards in the local government.

Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Haruna Aliyu Dangyating who cast his vote around 10 am at Dangyating in Miga local government, expressed satisfaction with voters turnout and the preparations made by the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISEC).

For his part, the state’s Commissioner for Local Government, Hon Ahmed Maikudi described the election as peaceful and satisfactory.

“Going by the peaceful conduct of the exercise and the candidates field by my party and other parties, I am confident that at the end of the exercise, my party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will win all the seat of the 27 local government and their councillors in the state” he stated.

The election was stil going on across the 27 local government area of the state as at the time of filing this report.