FCT polls: Only 33, 28 voters turn out in units with 763, 753 on register

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Saturday’s Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) recorded low turnout in some polling units (PU).

For instance, in PU012 located within the CBN junction, Karu, Abuja, 28 voters presented themselves for the exercise out of 753 voters on the register.

The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine was used to accredit the voters. Sadly, one vote was rendered invalid for possible wrong thumbprinting, while 27 votes were counted. Over 500 unused ballot papers were destroyed at the polling unit.

Not too far from it was PU013, with 763 registered voters, but only 33 voters turned out to participate in the voting exercise conducted on Saturday.

The BVAS machine was also used to authenticate the voters. Similarly, one vote was counted invalid, also for possible wrong thumbprinting, while 32 votes were counted as valid. A total of 730 unused ballot papers were destroyed at the polling unit before the party agents, as recommended by the rules.

A polling unit official said they were not surprised by the development, making reference to previous records, which indicated that people in that polling unit rarely turn out for local council elections.

“I am sure the turnout will be much more impressive in more rural areas in Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Orozo, Kabusa, and Karshi. These are places where indigenous people are dominating, and you know that some of the candidates are from the indigenous tribes.

“But here in Karu, most of the voters are uninterested in the election, and we could see it in the poor interest and enthusiasm they show during local council elections. Most of the people who came to vote here are from the ‘lower’ class, and that’s because this polling unit has been in existence for a very long time. These other ones that were recently created for the 2023 general elections within Karu here even have lesser voter participation.

“Nevertheless, we need more sensitisation of the people, making them realise that they have a role to play on who governs them at the local council level. With the local government autonomy in place, more resources and responsibilities are now being pushed to the local councils for community development.”

Meanwhile, The Sun gathered that low turnout was also recorded in several other polling units, particularly those in the urban areas of the FCT.