By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi At Saturday's Bauchi State local government election, voters expressed frustration over the delayed distribution...
By Rauf Oyewole, Bauchi
At Saturday's Bauchi State local government election, voters expressed frustration over the delayed distribution of electoral materials to polling units. A significant portion of eligible voters opted not to participate, with business activities and movement continuing unhindered.
Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise, reported that by 9:30 a.m., voting materials were still being delivered to the Baba Sidi Collation Centre. Only a few voters were seen loitering around, while others had already returned home, citing the late arrival of electoral materials.
In Alkaleri Local Government Area and parts of Bauchi metropolis, many voters were observed waiting for electoral officials between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
At Polling Unit 008 in Yelwa Duguri, the election concluded around 11:10 a.m., with sorting and counting completed before noon.
When our reporter arrived at the venue, no security officials were present, but electoral officers were seen handling materials along with some party agents.
The Presiding Officer, Garba Haliru Abubakar, reported that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairmanship candidate secured 453 votes, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) received 10 votes.
"We received the election materials around 4:00 a.m. and started voting at about 8:00 a.m. The process was peaceful, fair, and credible," Abubakar said.
In several rural polling units, there was significant voter apathy, with voters attributing it to low campaign efforts and mobilization by political parties.
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