Plateau North and Jos North/Bassa Federal House of Representatives re-run elections commenced without hitches but with a low turnout of voters. Although voters were seen at most of the polling units as early as 8 a.m.
Our correspondent observed that the poor turnout recorded earlier in the morning was a result of the cold.
So far, accreditation and voting have commenced simultaneously.
Our correspondent also learned that the exclusion of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ballot paper by INEC contributed to the low turnout of voters for the exercise.
However, the ruling party, the PDP, has ordered its supporters to vote for the candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Prince Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang, for the Senate (Plateau North), and the Labour Party candidate for the House of Representatives for Jos North/Bassa federal Constituency, Hon. Daniel Asama.
LEADERSHIP-Sunday recalls that the Appeal Court, in November 2023, nullified the elections of former Senate minority leader, Simon Mwadkwon, and member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Hon. Musa Agah, both of the People’s Democratic Party, on the ground of lack of structure.
The Appellate Court also ordered INEC to conduct rerun elections within 90 days, directing all parties to participate. However, PDP supporters were surprised when they discovered on the eve of the ordered rerun that the party’s logo was not on the ballot paper.
The turnout was not very impressive compared to the general election, which witnessed a large turnout of voters.
In most of the areas visited by our reporter, there was voter apathy, despite the early delivery of election materials.
At most of the polling units visited, including Hill station Junction 2, Polling Unit-023, Hill station Junction, Polling Unit 002 Jenta Adamu registration area, electoral officers were busy attending to the few voters who came.
A voter who preferred to remain anonymous said, “I came here as early as 6 a.m., but we are just less than 10 here.”
A party agent also said, “We arrived at the local Collation Center, the materials were distributed by 7:20 a.m., and elections commenced by 8:05 a.m. It is peaceful, and people are coming out, and we hope that everything will end well,” he said.
