By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State local government election was conducted on Saturday by the State Independent Electoral Commission.
Some of the polling units visited by our correspondent around noon had few votes cast in those units.
When our correspondent visited Baba Sidi Primary School, which housed six polling units, there was electoral officials but voters are not forthcoming
The presiding officer, Maliki Adamu, the unit had yet to see a voter since they resumed at about 8:25 am.
Party agents, including those of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and All Progressive Congress among others are on the ground
The local government elections have recorded an acute voter turnout due to late arrivals distribution and arrival of sensitive elections materials across the state.
Our correspondent gathered that voters arrived at several polling units early to cast their votes but could not stay any longer as both election officials and materials were nowhere to be found as at 10:00 am.
It’s gathered that the delay was caused by the elections umpire, the Bauchi State Independent Electoral Commission (BASIEC), who could not mobilise elections officials to their respective polling units.
Reports from local governments areas across the indicate that elections start as as early as 8:30 am in Tafawa Balewa, Bogoro and Dass election commence early
In some wards in Bauchi voting was yet to commence in several polling units as at 10am and at1:30 pm there were only a few voters who turned out.
It shows that across four polling units within Bauchi metropolis which has over 3244 registered voters only 58 persons voted i.e. only about 2% of voters in that area voted at 1:30 pm.
Other local governments in the state suggest similar patterns of voter apathy persist with the state.
Some attribute it to the farming season while others don’t have confidence in the election.
Meanwhile, Mr Mamman Eri, the Led Observer, as well as the Chairman, Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission who led the team of other States chairmen of the (SIEC) to monitor the elections said the election is peaceful in Bauchi.
He commended people of Bauchi State for conducting themselves at the polling units and the security agencies for maintaining peace at the elections units in the State
“We have gone round some polling units the election was peaceful, people conduct themselves and the agents of political parties present at the polling units in the state is commendable,” Eri said