Follow Us on Google
Sola Ojo, Kaduna
Press Secretary to Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, has given insight into why there was poor voter-turnout in the governorship and state House of Assembly election in Kaduna State.
Speaking to our correspondent shortly after he voted at Polling Unit 010 Damaturu Road, Umar said, many eligible voters did not come out to vote because of their perception of the outcome of the presidential election two weeks ago that, their votes were not allowed to count.
He also alleged that, an attempt by Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to pay some Islamic preachers, to preach in his favour, hindered many Muslims with conscience to come out and vote.
According to Sani, the “reasons for poor turnout are numerous. The general voters’ apathy is affecting the election. Some people believed that there was no point because the person they voted for during the presidential election did not emerge victorious because their votes were not counted.
“Secondly, the use of Islamic clerics is another factor. People like Saidu Gombe were paid to come and preach to us in Kaduna all the way from Gombe. But our people have decided where to go.
“So, those who were oppose to religious preachers, in order not to be caught in the web, decided to remain indoors. Some believed that, instigating them against others was not captured in the Quaran and Hadit. So, they did not come out to vote.
“However, the few that came out saw the enthusiasm and decided to vote. It was not that poor but the turnout was poor. If you compare the situation with the presidential where we had about 700 people voting at a polling unit and now you see 150 and things like that, it tells so much about who people wanted.
“But, from the fillers I am getting, the turn out in southern part of the state was massive and peaceful as at now. We are hopeful that our candidate for the state, Isa Ashiru will come out victorious.”
On what the incumbent was not doing right he said, “the arrogance of the incumbent governor is the issue. He has demolished houses; he has sacked a lot of people – teachers, traditional rulers and all that. He has sacked about 60,000 people and if you look at multiplication effect of that, you are looking at about 600,000 people less from vote he would get.
“He has attacked so many people including President Muhammadu Buhari even though he’s trying to pretend as if he loves him. All these factors are what Isa Ashiru is coming to address – God willing.
“Voters education is now better. People now choose who to vote for not on religious or political party but the person contesting.
“I will very surprise if we lose this election because I know the mood of the people. There is no how we can lose if there is no malpractice,” he opined.
