Early voters turnout excites Council Boss

Alhaji Aliyu Idris-Ibrahim, Council Chairman, Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna state, on Saturday, described early turnout of voters in various polling units of the area, as highly impressive.

Many voters have converged at various polling units, as early as 7:00 a.m. to cast their votes.

The chairman stated this in Zaria while monitoring the election exercise.

Speaking through Alhaji Abubakar Rilwan, Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ibrahim-Idris said that the turnout showed the determination of the people to exercise their franchise.

“So far so good, people have come out en-mass to exercise their franchise. I urge them to conduct themselves peacefully, to vote credible candidates of their choice.

“They should understand that today is the Election Day; there is no campaign, display of posters and no hate speeches.

“We should make sure we do what is right to pave way for peaceful, successful, free and fair elections.

“Electorates should kindly cast their votes and go back home and patiently wait for the outcome without any rancour,” he advised.

According to him, the essence of election is to bring good people into governance, hence the need for voters, to carefully choose and elect people with credibility that will bring development to their respective areas.

“Election is not a do-or-die affair; but it is a path to mandate good people to lead, therefore, this is the time of careful election of leaders.

“People should obey all the rules and regulations by the constituted authority, towards building a formidable society,” he appealed.

Elections had been peaceful across Zaria Local Government Area, except a report of card reader problem in Dambo and Gaskiya polling centres.

The two card readers reportedly refused to pick up, but an INEC official, who pleaded for anonymity, said efforts were on, to rectify the problem.

He assured that very soon all challenges would be resolved and voting would commence.

Cross sections of voters on queue expressed the hope that INEC would be fair to them and give them what they have elected.

Malam Sani Aliyu said: “Initially, we lost confidence on INEC but it seems they are now prepared to conduct credible elections, we want them to be neutral.

“We hope INEC will not be biased, they will give us what we have elected, people usually revolt, when INEC refused to give them what they have chosen.

“Insha Allah, nothing will happen if INEC conducts free and fair elections and give victory to those who deserve such victory.”

He encouraged the electorates to be patient and orderly during and after the elections.

Election had begun in most polling units, while security personnel had been deployed to polling units to maintain law and order.

The security agencies include; Police, Civil Defence Corps, Road marshals, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Nigerian Immigration Service among others.