Election: El-Rufai worried over voter apathy in Kaduna

Governor Nasir El-Rufai has expressed concern over the voters’ apathy in the state, especially among women.

The Governor, while waiting to cast his vote, urged the electorate to come out en masse to exercise their rights by choosing their leaders.

El-Rufai who waited for hours in the queue to cast his vote disclosed this at PU 024 ward 7 Unguwar Sarki, Kaduna said there are reported cases of Biomodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunction in the state.

The Governor explained that a BVAS machine was snatched at the Southern part of the state, just as he also said that two other incidents happened within the state.

He commended the electoral umpire for adequate preparations, adding that the police are investigating the incidents.

Although the Governor did not mention the locations of the other incidents, he cast his vote at Ungwana Sarki.

Mr Sunday Babaji, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election in Kaduna State, assured that his personnel are determined to ensure a peaceful exercise, saying that they are ready to deal decisively with anyone who tries to breach the peace in the state.

Rev. John Joseph Hayab, state chairman of CAN, expressed delight with the areas visited, saying that the exercise has been generally peaceful.

He explained, “I and other personalities have been moving from one area to another within the Kaduna metropolis to see how the exercise is going on. I thank God for all the areas visited, the exercise has been peaceful with a large number of eligible voters coming to cast their votes.”

Although the exercise is generally peaceful, the media reports that a large number of voters turned out to exercise their civic responsibilities.

It was also observed that many polling units in Kaduna started the voting process late in the afternoon as many units waited for hours without INEC officials or the voting materials to cast their votes.