By: Luka Binniyat/Meyin Etim

KADUNA – There is a surprising lack of interest by voters in Kaduna state, as far less than half of those accredited during the March 28th Presidential and National Assembly elections turn out for today’s poll.

This is surprising because, the contest between incumbent governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, contesting under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and his rival, Mallam Nasir El Rufai, of the All Progressive Alliance, APC, is expected to be keen, with their supporters violently clashing on several occasions.

Vice President Namadi Sambo, who was hailed by a cheering crowd of voters at his Kabala Doki 011 polling unit, Kaduna South Local Government Area, LGA, of Kaduna State during the last presidential elections, met a near deserted polling unit around 10:25am.

Sambo, who was with his wife, Amina Sambo, when asked by newsmen about the poor turnout, refused comment, but merely said, “as you can see, I have just done my accreditation. I shall return to cast my vote like anyone else later”, and began to moved away, as beefy, armed security men shoved newsmen away from asking further questions.

At around 10:10am about 80 persons had been accredited at his polling units, away from the 282 that did so on the 28th March, 2015 around the same time.

Mallam Nasir El Rufai, who did his accreditation at Murho Road, polling unit, off Katuru raod, Unguwan Sarki, Kaduna North LGA, around 9am was more forth coming in his comment.

He said to newsmen: “I have been informed that of the over 7,500 polling units in Kaduna metropolis and surroundings, that the turnout was very poor. But, in spite of this, I am very hopeful of wining. I want to appeal to my supporters to vote and respect the law”, he said.

Reports from Southern Kaduna indicate the same pattern. Mr. Solomon Bala Garkuwa, a lecturer with Kaduna State College of Education, Kafanchan, also an election monitor told Vanguard on phone from Kafanchan, about 200km South of Kaduna town, that the turnout very poor.

He said: “I am very surprise that we have this very low turnout. We noted that the last election was poorly attended, but this time, this one is worse. At some polling unit, we saw only 30 people coming out for accreditation. We are still going round. I don’t know if this number of people can actually produce a governor”, he said.

At Unguwan Boro, Sabon Tasha, Television village, and Kakuri, were the PDP has always won, the attendance was equally poor.

Mrs Agnes Japheth, a nurse with His Mercy Clinics, Uguwan Boro Kaduna tried an
explanation to Vanguard about what may have led to the poor turnout.

She said: “The APC has been saying in the radio and even in the newspaper that the PDP has hired thugs to attack people on election day. That soldiers have been paid to molest people and to help rig the elections in all the 23 LGAs in the state. So many said what was the use of coming out to get hurt when those that will win will not even notice you.

But, as for me, I cannot suffer to get my voting card and just remain at home. I must vote for my candidate”, she said