LG Polls: Kano APC in Early Lead in Peaceful Exercise

Ibrahim Shuaibu in Kano

Indications showed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) took an early lead in yesterday’s Local Government Elections in Kano state.

Our reporter who went round the Local Government Areas to monitor the election gathered that APC candidates in 484 Wards across the 44 Local Government Areas had a field day at the polling stations.

However, despite the late arrival of electoral materials in some polling stations visited, there was massive turnout of voters who came in their thousands to cast their votes for candidates of their choice.

Also, there was no report of violence during the exercise which commenced at 10 a.m. and ended at 6 p.m. Residents also complied with the no-movement of vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles directive by the security agencies during the period of the election.

It was observed that voters arrived the polling units as early as 6 a.m. in Sabon Gari, Brigade quarters, Gwammaja, BUK Road, Zoo Road, Garo in Kabo Local Government Area, among other places.

Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje who spoke shortly after casting his vote at Ganduje ward, in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area, around 12:20 noon after joining the queue at the polling booth, noted that, “all votes count.”

He said there was no superior and inferior vote during election, adding, “my vote is not superior to any other vote in a democratic election. Governor’s vote is not superior to that of a carpenter or any other person.”

Ganduje said he joined the queue to cast his vote, because that was the normal way for any peaceful election to thrive, and emphasised that, “President Muhammadu Buhari is an orderly President who enjoined that people should be orderly all the time, including election period.

“I am impressed by the way the Kano State Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) prepared for the election. Election materials arrived at the appropriate time and the personnel appeared to be ready for an effective and efficient conduct,” he said.

Governor Ganduje commended the behaviour of voters at the polling station, noting that from the information reaching him the election was going on peacefully across the state.

Speaking to reporters after casting his vote, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Murtala Sule Garo expressed optimism that the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) would win the 44 local government areas in the local government election.

Garo told journalists this at his hometown Garo in Kabo local government and described the election as free and fair, devoid of any form of violence.

“From my experiences, this is the first time I am witnessing such a free and fair election conducted by the KANSIEC. We don’t have any report of any violence from the 484 wards across the 44 local governments”

“As you are aware the ministry for local government is the coordinating body of the 44 local governments, so by extension I am coordinating and as far as I am concerned, the election is free and fair”

The Commissioner attributed the delay experienced during the election to the failure on the part of the contractor who could not deliver sensitive materials earlier on Friday as scheduled but arrived late Friday night hence, the delay in the distribution of the electoral materials on Saturday.

Murtala further stated that, considering the performance of Dr. Ganduje and the efforts put in place during the campaign, one can easily conclude that APC would emerge victorious in the election, winning the 44 local governments.

He also described the election as peaceful, free and fair, and expressed hope that the APC will win the 44 Local Government Area when the KANSIEC finally releases the results.

“We are very happy the election was conducted peacefully. I personally moved round and I observed that people came out in their numbers to exercise their franchise. There were no reports of violence; and I must tell you that APC will win the 484 wards across the 44 Local Government Areas.

“We embarked on vigorous campaign and voters’ education. People also came and voted the APC in appreciation of the good work of Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has been doing in Kano. What happened today is an example of what we are expecting in 2019 general elections,” he stated.

Our correspondent also reports that there was huge security presence across the state during the elections to forestall any unforeseen circumstance.

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