More Reactions Trail Outcome Of Kaduna LG Polls

The Kaduna State elections into the 23 local government areas of the state has continued to generate more reactions.

While some described the election as peaceful and credible, others have a contrary opinion on the conduct and outcome of the polls.

It would be recalled that the chairman of the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM) Hajara Mohammed announced that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) won in all the 23 local government areas.

Reacting to the results and declaration, the Northern Awareness Network (NAN) has commended KAD-SIECOM for the successful conduct of the elections. In a statement signed by its chairman, Salihu Sulaiman, the group praised the transparent and orderly manner in which the polls were conducted, despite security challenges.

“We are pleased to note that the voters in Kaduna demonstrated a high level of civic responsibility.

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The police and other security agencies also ensured a safe and secure environment for voters,” NAN stated.

The group urged elected officials to serve the people with integrity and work towards the progress of the state, pledging continued support for democratic processes in Northern Nigeria.

Similarly, the Northern Stakeholders Consultative Forum (NSCF) described the elections as peaceful, free, and fair. The forum, in a statement by its convener, Comrade Paul Danjuma, commended KADSIECOM for conducting a credible election, noting that areas monitored in Kaduna metropolis showed no hitches.

“The people of Kaduna State turned out in large numbers to exercise their rights. We congratulate the winners and urge those who were not successful to accept the results in the spirit of sportsmanship,” Danjuma said.

The forum also commended Governor Uba Sani for providing an enabling environment for a peaceful election and urged winners to deliver the dividends of democracy to their constituents.

Meanwhile, it would be recalled that the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had described the election as a charade, saying no election held, alleging that there was no results sheets and that election never held in any local government for lack of materials .

Addressing a press conference , the PDP State chairman, Edward Marsha flanked by his executives  recalled how they had raised the alarm before now that the government has perfected plans to manipulate the election in their favour.

” We have gone round polling units across that state and we can categorically say there was no election. Where materials were sent , there was no election results and we will not accept any results because election did not hold in accordance to laid down procedures” he said.

Also, the Middle Belt Forum (MBF), Kaduna State Chapter has expressed its profound concern and fear over a trending video which appears to feature the Chairman, Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KAD-SIECOM), Hajia Hajara Mohammed, announcing the results of the supposed 19th October, 2024 Local Government Chairmanship and Councilors  election.

The MBF Kaduna State chapter in a statement signed by its chairman, Luka Biniyat and made available to newsmen said, that “from all that we have gathered from the field yesterday, elections did not hold in the overwhelming 12 LGAs of the Middle Belt in Kaduna state.

“Election materials arrived late and came without results sheets and the electorates, suspicious of an untoward game, refused to vote. Since the election did not hold, there was no way that results would have been announced to declare winners at the ward levels (Councillors) and at the Local Government Headquarters (Chairmen) as mandated  in the KAD-SIECOM law, PART VI Section 23 (1) and (2).

“No such results were declared anywhere in the 12 LGAs of the Middle Belt zone of the state, otherwise known as Southern Kaduna. We have viewed documents on the social media purported to be KAD-SIECOM results sheets, apportioning votes to candidates of political parties, when clearly no such results were collated at the polls”.

Biniyat averred that Governor Uba Sani has been held in the Middle Belt as a democrat, a tolerant politician with a fair sense of justice and inclusivity in his governance which is a happy departure from his predecessor, that they regard as tyrannical, insensitive, abusive and divisive.

“Ironically, former Governor Nasir el-Rufai that we regarded as a despot and had no good will to our people, showed some modicum of decency by allowing Local Government elections during his tenure to be hugely free and fair in the Middle Belt areas of Kaduna state. Even at that, his party, the APC, still won in some LGAs.

“It will therefore be very unfortunate and a huge minus to the integrity and trust that Governor Uba Sani has built among us if he allows the announcement of Hajia Hajara Mohammed to stand as the real results of yesterday’s supposed Local Government election”.

The MBF urged the governor to kindly review the situation and do the needful to ensure that the confidence people have in him is not eroded.

Also, the Kaduna Peace Frontiers (KPF) on their part in a statement issued by its chairman Abubakar Alhassan, described the outcome of the election as commendable, stressing that the election generally was peaceful and there was no report of any violence whatsoever.