By Mohammed Abubakar, Dutse
Local government elections took off in Saturday with low turn out of voters and late commencement of the exercise across the state.
In some of the polling units visited by the turnouts of voters, there were reported cases of late arrival of elections materials, as a result, voting did not commence at the stipulated time time frame of 10:00 am.
For example, in Birnin Kudu Local Government Area, apart from the polling unit of the chairmanship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, (APC,) Muhammad Uba, Lambu Faira, other polling units in the town witnessed low turn out of voters.
However, there was increased turnout observed by noon in some polling units. The election was, however, generally peaceful across all the 27 LGAs of the State.
The State Governor, Umar Namadi, his predecessor and Defence Minister, Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Haruna Aliyu Dangyatin variously cast their votes in their respective polling units.
Similarly, the State Deputy Governor, Aminu Usman Gumel, and the State chairman of APC, Aminu Sani Gumel performed their civic duties, in Gumel, while the Secretary to the State Government, (SSG) Bala Ibrahim and the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bello Abdulkadir Fanini voted in Birnin Kudu.
The Governor, who voted at Imam Hassan Polling Unit, Kafin Hausa LGA, lauded the voter turnout in the area and their peaceful conduct during the exercise.
Badaru, who voted at his Kofar Arewa polling unit in Babura LGA, alongside his supporters, lauded the arrangements for the conduit of the election.
Accompanied by APC chieftains, family members, supporters, and well-wishers, Badaru commended the electoral process, describing it as peaceful and orderly. He expressed confidence that the outcome would reflect the will of the people.
“The Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) has conducted a credible and transparent election,” Badaru stated. “I urge all stakeholders to maintain this peaceful atmosphere, ensuring the democratic process is respected.”
In Jahun LGA, election commenced very early at some pooling units, as some residents claimed to have cast their votes as early as 09 am.
Speaking with reporters, Namadi maintained that ‘the peaceful conduct of the exercise was a clear demonstration of the confidence the people of the state have in democracy and the State Independent Electoral Commission.
While speaking to newsmen, former Chairman of Dutse LGA, Abdulaziz Dankofa, complained that as at 09:30am, the election materials were not delivered to any polling unit in Madobi and Kudai wards in the Local Government.
Dangyatin who voted around 10:00 am at Dangyatin in Miga local government, expressed satisfaction with voters turnout and the preparations made by the Jigawa State Independent Electoral Commission (JISEC).
On his part, the State’s Commissioner for Local Government Ahmed Maikudi described the election as peaceful and satisfactory.
“Going by the peaceful conduct of the exercise and the candidates field by my party and other parties, I am confident that at the end of the exercise, my party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) will win all the seat of the 27 Local Government and their councillors in the State” he stated.
The outcome of the elections which was still going on across the 27 LGAs of the State as at the time of filing this report, is being expected.