LG polls: SIECOM BLAMED FOR LOW TURN-OUT

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From JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON, Kaduna
Eligible voters in Chikun Local Government Area have blamed the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission for the low turn-out of voters recorded in last weekend’s Local Council Elections.
In a phone interview with New Nigerian, the Chairperson of the Campaign Works, Mrs. Asmau Hadassah Usman, described the organization as far from the desired standards.
She explained that at Narayi polling centre, most of the voters who turned out early to vote the candidates of their choice were disappointed that by 12 noon, voting materials were yet to reach the centre.
“As early as 7am, many voters trekked from long distances to get a chance of voting only to be disappointed that the materials were not yet available.
“It is really painful that despite giving the whole area a polling centre, they still failed to arrive in time. As I am talking to you, it is past mid-day and voting is yet to commence,” she submitted.
It was not an isolated case in Narayi alone, in Sabon Tasha polling centre on Jema’a Road, New Nigerian visited at about 12:10pm to find a handful of voters, waiting patiently for the materials to arrive.
In an interview with one of the security personnel at the centre, she explained that some of the materials were brought in earlier, but the polling clerks went to get ink.
Fortunately for those at that centre, voting commenced at about 1:30pm.
Other centres in Chikun were not that lucky, as some had to wait till about 3pm before they started voting.
It was observed however, that ugly incidents were not recorded throughout the local government area, as voters were peaceful and orderly throughout the conduct of the polls..

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