Election into the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State yesterday was trailed by controversy as poll materials and officers were not found in most polling units visited.
Voters however turned up in some units to cast their ballots.
However, the restriction of movement put in place was not adhered to as most vehicles were seen on the roads unhindered.
At the polling unit of Governor Uba Sani in Kawo Kaduna North there was a large turnout of voters but materials for only one polling unit were on ground while it was alleged that there were no result sheets, leading to a mild protest that disrupted the voting.
At the primary school where the governor voted, there were three polling units but materials for only one polling unit, causing a tense atmosphere as over 20 Hilux vehicles loaded with heavily armed security personnel were mobilised to the scene, but that did not stop youths and women who insisted that election materials must be produced with result sheets as some of them chanted “PDP we want”.
Due to the tense atmosphere, the governor could not come to the venue of the election until more security personnel were mobilised to the venue and he voted after 4pm when the election was expected to have ended.
Some polling units received election materials after the voting time elapsed.
The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Edward Masha, alleged gross irregularities in the election.
Masha, while addressing journalists, expressed concern over the exclusion of crucial materials, specifically the result sheets, from the electoral process.
He said, “We were invited by KAD-SIECOM to receive sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria, but upon inspection, we discovered that the result sheets were missing. This omission compromised the integrity of the elections, and our representatives stood against the impunity.”
Masha accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of “killing democracy and undermining the electoral process”.
“The APC has appointed its chairmanship candidates for the poll, knowing fully well that local government elections are the bedrock of democracy. But today, they said no. We will appoint chairmen for us like sole administrators by the government,” he added.
He emphasised that the PDP would challenge the process in court and continue to seek justice for the people.
“We will not accept this charade. We will not accept the killing of democracy. We will challenge this process in court, and we will continue to seek justice for our people.”
Masha highlighted several irregularities and concerns observed during the election.
“The Kaduna State government assured us that all electoral materials, including result sheets, would be provided, but the reverse is true,” Masha said, while adding, “This is a deliberate attempt to undermine the democratic process.”
Masha urged lovers of democracy and security agencies to take note of the situation, saying, “Kaduna State is sick, and democracy is gone. We need to bring this to the public’s attention and demand justice.”
The PDP chairman urged party members and supporters not to be discouraged. “We will continue to fight for democracy and justice. We will not give up,” he added.
Earlier, the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), said the All Progressives Congress (APC) cleared all 23 chairmanship and 255 councillorship seats.
Declaring the results, the chairperson of the commission, Hajara Mohammed, said eight political parties participated with the APC winning 23 chairmanship positions and 255 councillorship positions.
She added that the ruling APC won in Birnin-Gwari, Chikun, Igabi, Ikara, Jaba, Jema’a, Kachia, Kaduna North, and Kaduna South.
Other local governments won by the APC, according to the Chairman, are Kagarko, Kajuru, Kaura, Kuaru, Kubau, Kudan, Lere, Makarfi, Sabon Gari, Sanga, Soba, Zango-Kataf and Zaria.
According to the SEICOM boss, ADC, APC, APGA, LP, NNPP, PDP, PRP and YPP filed candidates for the election.
“The electoral officers have filed their reports, and at the end of exercise, 23 won chairmanship positions and 255 won councillorship positions. The 23 local government returning officers and 255 wards returning officers have declared the results in their respective constituency and submitted their results in accordance with the law alongside the presiding officers.
“By the power vested on the commission, I hereby wish to confirm the result earlier collected and returned by the returning officers. I am confirming these results as follows; APC won the 23 local government chairmanship positions and the 255 wards councillorship positions across the state.
Governor Sani in an interview with newsmen shortly after casting his vote at LEA Kawo polling unit O47 expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
He noted that the election was generally free, fair, and peaceful, with only minor issues reported in three polling units and wards.
The governor emphasized the importance of local government elections, stating that turnout across the 23 local government areas was satisfactory.
He added that the All Progressives Congress (APC) had campaigned extensively throughout the state.
He also urged voters to remain peaceful, reminding them that in every election, there are winners and losers while expressing confidence that the process would result in credible outcomes.
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