Nigerian Polls: High turnout in South, apathy in the North

Punch: Elections into 24 out of the 36 governorship seats and that of the 34 state Houses of Assembly started on Tuesday with tight security across the nation.

The governorship poll did not take place in 12 states. In 10 of the states, the governors are yet to complete either their first or second tenure in office, but elections into the houses of assembly held in the 10 states.



Both polls were shelved by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Kaduna and Bauchi states till (Thursday) tomorrow because of the serious concern of insecurity caused by post-presidential election violence in many parts of northern Nigeria.

Unlike the states in the southern part of the country, the turnout of voters was low in most of the states in the north.

The situation in the north was attributed by those who turned up to exercise their civic duty to the April 16, 2011 post-presidential election violence, which followed the announcement of the result of President Goodluck Jonathan as the winner by INEC.

The major political parties which fielded candidates for the elections are the Peoples Democratic Party, the Action Congress of Nigeria, the Congress for Progressive Change, the All Nigerian Peoples Party and the Labour Party.

More than 315 candidates took part in the governorship race.

President Jonathan (PDP) voted at the Otuabula Ward XIII, Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.

His wife, Patience, and his mother, Eunice, also voted at the centre.

Jonathan, who arrived at the centre amid tight security, was congratulated by many of his kinsmen for winning the April 16 (presidential) election.

The President’s main opponent in the April 16 election, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), of the CPC voted at the Sarkin Yara Polling unit in Daura, Katsina State.

His wife, Aishatu, who was accredited at 9. 41 am, decried the low women turnout in the area.

In Lagos, where indications pointed to Governor Babatunde Fashola coasting to victory, armed soldiers manned the major highways in the state.

Nearly all the polling centres in the state had a minimum number of two policemen, who were assisted by other security agents in providing security.

A large detachment of security personnel mounted checkpoints at Mararaba, a boundary town between the Federal Capital Territory and Nasarawa State, although there were no elections in the FCT because of its status.

Checkpoints were located at various spots jointly manned by policemen and soldiers to forestall any violence.

A police officer at the check-point in Mararaba explained that much attention was being focused on the area, because “it is a notorious black spot in Nasarawa.”

In Kebbi State, there was a low turnout during the accreditation for the elections, which was conducted amidst tight security.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Alhaji Kabir Ahmed, attributed it to voter apathy.

“We have put several paid announcements on radio and television, appealing to them to turn out en mass as past challenges would be rectified,” he said.

The situation was the same in Adamawa State, where some voters who turned out early for accreditation said the low turnout for the state assembly election was due to the fact that the governorship election would take place in the state in 2012.

In Jigawa, many voters boycotted the elections in spite of the elaborate arrangement by INEC to ensure the early deployment of election officials and materials.

Alhaji Ibrahim Ali, a 54-year-old voter in Dutse, attributed the low turnout to the post-presidential election violence witnessed in the state.

There was also a low turnout in Minna, Suleja, Bida, Mokwa and some other parts of Niger State.

In Yobe State, accreditation commenced as early as 8 am in most of the polling units, but there was a low turnout of voters compared with the last two elections.

There was less visibility of security men in Kano State compared with the presidential election when soldiers and policemen elaborately guided the state.

There were only few a policemen in areas such as Fagge, Emir’s Palace, France Road and Zoo Road in Kano because of the relatively low turnout of voters.

Many residents of the area ignored the restriction order although the accreditation was generally smooth because of the low turnout.

But in Jos, some ad hoc staff used during the previous elections in Riyom Local Government Area of Plateau embarked on a protest over their exclusion from the elections.

The protesters accused INEC officials of deliberately removing their names from the list of those who would conduct the elections.

They claimed that the INEC officials did not inform them in advance that their services would not be required, forcing them to troop to the INEC office in spite of the restriction of movement.

When contacted, Mr. Danjuma Madaki, the Electoral Officer in charge of the area, said he was directed by the state Resident Electoral Commissioner to reduce the number of ad hoc staff because of lack of funds.

The situation was, however, different in Edo, Enugu, Imo, Ondo, Oyo, Anambra states, as a large number of voters participated in the exercise amid tight security.

Eligible voters in Oyo State turned out in an impressive manner as the governorship and HoA elections got under way.

Security agents were sighted on major roads in Enugu, while some were busy ensuring the orderliness of voters at the polling units.

There was heavy security presence on major roads in Imo State with many voters turning up for accreditation as early as 8.30 am.

In Akure, Okitipupa and other parts of Ondo State, electoral officers and materials arrived at the various polling units between 8.30 am and 9 am amid tight security.