IN contrast to the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, there was a low turnout of voters across polling units in the North-East during the March 18 governorhip and state assembly polls.
Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) staff and electoral materials arrived on time, few voters turned out to exercise their franchise
According to an electoral observer in Borno South Senatorial District, Toba Yahaya, “The polling unit opened in 9:25 am but the place is scanty election materials are in place but the election has not commenced.”
However, in Adamawa North senatorial district, voters have been having issues.
Mary Musa monitoring Borno Central Senatorial District stressed that voters in Shuwari North experienced difficulty while trying to get accredited by the Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS).
“Most voters’ thumbprints don’t respond on the machine. They are bitterly complaining about the failure and they have only one machine on the ground,” she said.
Musa disclosed that INEC staff in Maimusari Primary School 002, Jere, Borno Central decried the poor turnout of voters.
Also in Wukari Ward of Taraba Senatorial District, low voter turnout was recorded.
Also, there were reports that voters were induced with maggi, wrappers and laundry soaps to vote for the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Shehuri North Ward in Borno State.
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