Kaduna Bye-Election Witnesses Low Turnout

There was low turnout in the Kaduna bye-election on Saturday in Sabon-Tasha, Narayi, Maraban Rido in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state as voters shunned the exercise.

Areas which recorded low turnout of voters include Sabon-Tasha, Narayi, and Maraban Rido in Chikun LGA.

However, at Makera, Barnanwa in Kaduna South LGA of the state, there was an impressive turnout of voters where party agents alleged vote-buying.

Meanwhile, accreditation and voting commenced at about 9:15 am at the Kakuri Hausa Gora Street polling unit 0045 and polling unit 0023, also in Kakuri Hausa ward.

Gora is one of the most populated wards in Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state.

BYE-ELECTIONS: Low Turnout Mars Re-run in Delta

Although earlier, there were hiccups at one of the Kakuri Hausa ward polling units as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System malfunctioned, the issue was rectified and voting went on peacefully.

But allegations of vote-buying were recorded at the Barnawa Market Polling Unit.

Party agents alleged that at the polling unit, a vote was bought between N10,000 and N15,000.

Speaking to news correspondent on Saturday, an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, Veronica Okuna, alleged there was vote-buying at her polling unit.

She said that some party agents paid between N10,000 and N15,000 per voter.

She said, “There is vote-buying going on by APC agents right here (Barnawa Market road polling units) and now.

“I’m not happy at all. I went to Maraban Rido and Narayi, the turnout was not much but here the turnout was much because of vote-buying which wasn’t good for our democracy.

“I wish operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission are here to see things for themselves.

Meanwhile, men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, operatives of the Department of State Services as well as the Federal Road Safety Corps were seen on the ground to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission had fixed Saturday 3, 2024 for the conduct of supplementary elections in 44 constituencies across the country.