Our goal is to ensure credible process —el-Rufai

GOVERNOR Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State has stated that they were not after  wining the local government election in the state, but to have credible electoral process.

He made this known, on Saturday, after casting his vote in his ward at Unguwar Sarki in Kaduna.

el-Rufai, who said credible polls were more important than the victory of the APC, saying he was happy with the peaceful conduct as well as the turnout.

The governor, who was  accompanied by some top government officials arrived at his polling unit at 12:47 pm and went straight for accreditation. He then patiently join the queue of other voters and cast his vote at exactly 1:09 pm.

Meanwhile, electorate that turned out  to cast their votes at  the local government chairmanship and councillorship elections  held  in Kaduna, on Saturday, have expressed satisfaction with the electronic voting machine used in the election.

Findings revealed that  even though, there were  challenges at the commencement of the exercise like late arrival of materials, late voting, mix-up in  staff deployment to polling centres, among others, the turnout of voters was  impressive.

However, in some polling units, the  turnout of voters was very low, as it was gathered that majority of the people were yet to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs).

At Unguwar Rimi ward of Kaduna North Local Government Area, the turnout was quite impressive.

When Sunday Tribune visited the ward, a source, who pleaded anonymity, said they were on the queue since around 8:07am.

It was learnt that the three people contesting for the position of councillor  were Ibrahim Ahmed of the All Progressive Congress (APC); Waziri Tanko of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and Nura Ismail of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

A voter, who gave his name as Ibrahim Musa, said when he was about to use the electronic voting machine to cast his vote, he was apprehensive but regained confidence as the exercise took less than five minutes.

Similarly, at LEA Primary School, Lokoja Road, Kaduna, where there were two centres, 014 and 015, the voting machine process was quickly embraced by voters.

One of the accredited voters, who did not want his name in print revealed that the voting machine was working perfectly.

“When you touch a button, you will hear a voice dictating to you. It is simply marvelous,” he stated.

It was, however, gathered that elections would not hold in two local government areas, due to some security breaches.

A source at the state electoral body, who pleaded anonymity confirmed that elections could not hold at Kaura and Jaba local government areas.

According to him, some youths stormed the offices of the two local governments.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 15,000 security personnel have were deployed to ensure law and order during the elections, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Austin Iwar, said.

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Iwar made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna, adding that the personnel were from Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies.

He advised the electorate to obey the rules guiding the electoral process.

“Avoid anything that would bring problem to the electoral process; it is to our advantage to have vibrant democracy,” he stated.

Iwar urged politicians to control and guide their supporters to ensure smooth, free, fair and credible electoral process.

“You are also to note that using electronic voting in this local government election is first of its kind in Nigeria. The system is very transparent, difficult to manipulate, so, whoever snatches ballot boxes will not achieve anything,” he stated, and warned that any breach of peace would not be tolerated.

Meanwhile, Votes in Rigasa area of Igabi Local Government of  Kaduna State have hailed the use of the Electronic Voting System in the ongoing local councils election in the state.

Those who voted told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday that the process was easier and faster.

NAN reported that verification of voters began at about 9:00am at the two polling units in LGEA Rigasa Primary School, Lokoja road, where voters cast their vote immediately after verification.

NAN also observed that election results were printed out to show the electorate that there were no record of votes before the exercise.

MalamaHussainaMaiadashi who voted at polling unit 020 Daura Road, said she was happy with the voting process, saying it was easier than previous elections.

“To be honest this year’s election is better, as you can see I just arrived and within few minutes I am done with both verification and voting”, she said.

Another voter, MallamAbdullahiBawa who also cast his vote at Daura road said the EVM was easy to use and transparent.

Tahir Umar, an electorate, who voted at Miyetti Allah polling unit 017 said: “Voting is very simple and fast but the turn up is not encouraging because some people are not aware of the commencement of the elections “

Also, an electorate who voted at Zagezage polling unit 016 thanked God for a peaceful voting exercise,adding that the voting machine was user friendly  .

NAN report that there was low turn out of female voters in the area. (NAN) APC LG Congress.