Low turnout of voters mar Nasarawa/Toto bye-election

Poor turnout of voters characterised Saturday’s bye-election into the Nasarawa/ Toto Federal Constituency seat in Nasarawa state, reports the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

NAN Correspondent who monitored the exercise reports that accreditation and voting started simultaneously around 8:30am in most of the polling units, with proceedings gong on peacefully.

An Assistant Presiding officer at Angwan Dallatu polling unit of Nasarawa central ward in Nasarawa Local Government Area, Mr. Ahmed Mohammed, told NAN that accreditation and voting took place same time to ensure that nobody was disenfranchised .

However, Mr.Abubakar Ibrahim, an All Progressive Congress (APC) agent at the ward, expressed concern over malfunctioning of the card readers.

“My problem is with the card readers; they are not functioning well the way we had expected; we want transparent and peaceful election,” he said

Mr. Mohammed Umar, a voter, described the exercise as peaceful and commended Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies for their arrangement towards ensuring peaceful election.

At Angwan Girku 1 polling unit of Nasarawa Local Government Area, Miss Aisha Audu, a voter also expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the exercise.

She however decried low turnout of voters and attributed it to the unfilled promised made some by politicians and hardship currently faced by the people.

Other polling units visited by NAN in the area includes Madaki 1, Madaki 2, Angwan Maireke and Angwan Dutse 2 polling units among others

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) fixed May 28 for the bye- election for the Nasarawa/Toto federal constituency following the death of the lawmaker representing the constituency,Mr.Musa Baba Onwana. (NAN)