THE Plateau State Local Government Polls in parts of Jos North was generally peaceful but experienced a low turnout of voters allegedly due to the tension that predicated the conduct of the polls.
SUNDAY STANDARD was at Kabong South Polling Unit in Jos North LGA as early as 9am, where electoral materials were being distributed to election officials covering the Kabong Ward.
The number of prospective voters was scanty while security personnel were seen accompanying materials to the various units.
At the Jenta Mangoro Polling Unit with code number 014, voting had not commenced as at 10 am due to protests by voters who complained that a different ballot box belonging to another unit was brought to them.
Similarly, Moses Thaddeus, a resident of Jos Jarawa, expressed his disappointment when the PLASIEC officials brought a ballot box belonging to Angwan Rogo polling unit with the code number 068.
At the Jenta Makeri junction Polling Unit with code number 003, there were no voters around as at when Nigeria Standard came. From records, the unit has 841 total registered voters but only a few cast their votes as at 10am. The same was the situation at St Lukes Primary School Polling Unit with number 008.
SUNDAY STANDARD also observed an almost similar situation in Ali Kazaure ward where most Polling units had security personnel and election officials sitting idle while people were going about their normal business. But some form of activities were going on at Kwararafa cinema Polling unit.
At Yan trailer polling unit 08, Gondola Village polling unit 039 and Jos Jarawa polling unit 008 all in Jos North LGA of the state, prospective voters were seen hanging around 8am, without any political party agent, sensitive or non sensitive materials.
At the Yan trailer polling unit, a PLASIEC official, Mr. Gonchen Ritji, said they arrived at the polling unit around 9.45am and that the turnout of people was very poor but there were little hitches.
At the Kerana Polling unit 006, electoral officials said the voter turnout was low. From the records, the number of registered voters was 1395 but only a few turned out.
The APC Councillorship candidate representing Hwolshe ward, Julius Dung, however, commended Gov. Simon Lalong for conducting elections in Jos North after a long time and said he was impressed with the turn out of people.
However, despite the low turnout of voters, the APC councillorship candidate for Vandapuye ward, Evangelist Grace Vandapuye, expressed her satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
“I am highly impressed with the people of Vandapuye because they gave me massive support. The people came out for the candidates and not the party,” she stated.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, cast his vote at the Hill station Junction Polling Unit 002. He described the voter turn out as low. He however attributed it to the tension that predicated the election.
“The turnout is a bit low, let me be honest with you. But then you know how people are. We Nigerians, we like to do that African timing. There were lots of tension and anxiety, especially yesterday waiting for the judgement from the Appeal Court. But we thank God everything went on smoothly,” he stated.
