Why Late arrival of Officials and Materials may mar Kaduna LG Elections

Dr Saratu Binta Dikko-Audu: Chairperson Kaduna Electoral Commission

As at 11:35am voting in today's Kaduna L.G polls had not commenced in the city centre, as electoral officials and materials were still making their way to polling units in an election that was slated to commence at 8:00am.

At a polling unit, a party agent told Cubinks that the officials have not arrived but have information that they are on their way. Voters were seen around the polling area expressing dissatisfaction with the way things were going. "We hope that the lateness of the officials is not a ploy to disenfranchise voters because we are all determined to vote the candidate of our choice today", said one of the voters.

It will be recalled in our coverage of the build up yesterday, we gathered that there are indications that many people will be disenfranchised. The absence of the voter list that ought to be displayed at the polling areas early enough for voters to identify their names elicited agitations of both voters and party agents.

Kaduna is the first State to introduce electronic voting in Nigeria, this may have also taken voters unaware of the processes involved. Today's LG elections have been described by many as a litmus test for the credibility of electronic voting in Nigeria.

As at press time, reports from our correspondents covering the rural parts of the State were still being awaited.

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