KADUNA LOCAL GOVERNMENT POLLS: Why Voters may be Disenfranchised

An Election Officer Training Supervisors for the exercise

A Kaduna-based civil society organization, Coalition of Associations for Leadership, Peace, Empowerment and Development (CALPED), has vowed to watch out for under-aged voters and thugs in tomorrow's Local Government polls and hand them over to security agents.

Convener of the coalition, Mr Yusuf Goje told Cubinks in an interview that as part of its social responsibility, CALPED had decided to team up with other civil society organizations "to own the electoral process by ensuring that it is hitch free and credible.

"As part of our contribution to the democratic process, we are duty bound to join other stakeholders by making sure the right thing is done and by so doing democracy would deepen and Nigeria would be better off", Goje said, advising that all hands should be on deck to fish out thugs and under aged voters not only in tomorrow's local government polls but in subsequent elections.

While maintaining that it would be absolutely impossible for the electorate to vote in credible candidates if votes do not count, Goje called on indigenes and residents to come out en masse and vote the candidates of their choice in tomorrow's local government polls.

CALPED decried the disenfranchisement of temporary voter card holders who include newly registered voters and those who have requested for replacement of damaged or missing cards, contrary to the provisions of the constitution on eligibility of the voter. The Coalition alongside other civil society organizations have been making this call from the onset especially now that the accredtiation machine (card reader) is no longer to be employed during the polls. KADSIECOM is yet to reconsider this call not deny eligible voters.

Meanwhile, Kaduna state governor, Malam Nasir el-Rufai has appealed to voters in the state to conduct themselves peacefully and orderly throughout the length and breadth of the state to prevent anything that could lead to violence and possible breakdown of law and order. The governor who was believed to be reacting to rumors making the rounds that political thugs and under aged voters were waiting in wings to disrupt the process, warned trouble makers to stay away from polling stations or face the full wrath of the law.

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