Nasarawa, Cross River, Abia Hold LG Polls

There was voter apathy in yesterday’s local government election in Nasarawa and Cross River states as many voters failed to go out to cast their votes during the exercise.

In Lafia, at polling units 027, Makabarta, K/Isa Ugah, 026, Plateau Lab-028 and Low Cost-029, all in Ciroma ward, electoral officers were seen in their respective locations as from 9-30 am, but only a few voters turned out.

An electoral officer told our correspondence at the Low Cost polling unit that they were at the duty post early, but the turnout was low.

“We are hoping that more people will come out to vote but so far it has been low,” he said.

Our correspondent reports that the situation was the same in Kofar Bukar-013, K/Gwanki-014, ST. Williams -015 and GSS Lafià-016 in Gayam ward and most of other areas visited.

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Some respondents attributed the apathy to the withdrawal of the main opposition political party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the race.

The main opposition party had earlier announced its exit from the poll citing high registration and expression of interest fees fixed by the State Independent Electoral Commission.

In Cross River State, despite the late arrival of election materials at different polling units and insinuations in some quarters that materials across the 3,281 polling units were diverted and hoarded,  the state had a peaceful election.

There was however low voter turnout in most polling units.

In Abia, Obingwa and Ohafia local governments were  reported to have recorded skirmishes during the election.

But Governor Alex Otti, speaking to the media after casting his ballot, described  the skirmishes as minor, adding that the situation had been brought under control.

“As soon as we got information that some people are trying to disrupt the election, we mobilised security men and they have brought everything under control,” he noted.

He said he had been monitoring the exercise across the 17 local  governments of the state and expressed the hope that it would end peacefully.

“If you want to continue to enjoy dividends of democracy, if you want to continue to enjoy performance, then, you need to vote people with the capacity to deliver.”  Otti voted at about 12.20 alongside his wife, Priscila Otti at their Unit 017, Ahiafor, Umuru-Umuehim Nvosi in Isialangwa South local government.