28th July, 2012
The Independent National Election Commission (INEC) on Saturday expressed concern over “some irregularities’’ during the conduct of the bye-election into the state assembly in Dutsi Local Government, Katsina state.
Ambassador Ahmad Wali, the INEC National Commissioner expressed the concern in Dutsi while monitoring the exercise in the area.
“I went round and met many electorates in an orderly manner at their polling units; unfortunately, there were many cases of snatching of ballot papers and boxes in some polling units; it is unfortunate.
“Polling units, where ballot papers or boxes were snatched will be cancelled,’’ he said.
He said that though it might be painful to realise that results in some polling units were cancelled, voters must learn to protect their votes in future elections in the area.
A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who visited some of the polling units reported that elections were completed as early as 9:30 a.m. in some places.
In others, some suspected political thugs were seen chasing away voters and other party agents from exercising their civic responsibility.
The areas visited include Nagataupolling unit, Yamel B, Kayawa and Dan-aunai wards.
The agency, however, observed that there was adequate security in all the polling units visited.