SOKOTO GUBER: VOTERS TURN OUT EN MASSE

The governorship election in Sokoto State on Saturday witnessed an impressive turnout of voters across the 23 local governments of the state. The poll was also very peaceful with security agencies seen maintaining law and order throughout the process.

Sunday Sun which visited polling units within the state capital during the accreditation hours observed long queues of prospective voters filing out for the registration exercise between 8 am and 12 noon.

Although there are reports of late arrival of both registration and voting materials to some wards in Gada, Isa, Kebbe and Sabon Birni local government areas of the state, which according to some electoral officials was occasioned by difficulty in accessing those areas at appropriate.

Opposition parties in Kebbe, Bodinga and Gada local government areas said they are apprehensive over the conduct of the poll, alleging that security agencies were seen turning down their agents from the polling units. Some of the election observers told Sunday Sun that the level of voters' turn out was very impressive while compared to that of previous governorship elections in both Bayelsa and Adamawa states.

At Shiar Hakini polling unit in Wamakko ward, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate and former governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko cast his vote and expressed satisfaction over the large turnout of voters in a peaceful and orderly manner. According to Wamakko 'So far, and from the report reaching my end, there was an impressive turnout statewide. And we are optimistic that our party would emerge victorious at the end of this peaceful exercise' he said.

Also, at Gwadabawa local government, the state Acting governor, Lawal Mohammed Zaiyana voted at about 1:45pm where he described the voting exercise as perfect in the history of elections in the state. He urged the electorate to maintain the tempo in other to achieve a credible exercise. In Shagari local government, the former President, Shehu Shagari alongside former deputy governor, Muktarh Shagari voted at Shagari model primary school where they also expressed satisfaction with the voting pattern in the area.

At Kebbe, the hometown of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Alhaji Yuhsa'u Mohammed Kebbe cast his vote about 1:45pm in Ubandawaki polling unit. He commended INEC for being adequate and timely in the provision of election materials. He said there is voter apathy and alleged that opposition disrupted election in kuchi area of kebbe local government. Yusha'u called on the authority to enact law banning the carrying of arms and other dangerous weapons during the poll hours by party supporters, adding that sensitive materials should only be released when parties official are present.

The ANPP governorship candidate said going by the strength of their campaign, they were confident of winning the poll. 'So far, I have not received any particular complaint  that is directed at any INEC official in the state.'. However, the state commissioner of police, Alhaji Baba Adisa Bolanta led a patrol team of mobile police on a stop and search operation within Sokoto metropolis to enforce the no-movement order during the voting hours.

Speaking shortly after casting his vote at Shiya Ajiya polling unit in Tambuwal, the Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, commended the people of the state for their peaceful conduct during the exercise. He said reports reaching him from all parts of the state indicated that the exercise was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

“I commend the peaceful atmosphere under which the election is being conducted; I believe we are going to have a rancour-free election in Sokoto State,'' he said. He urged politicians to ensure a peaceful conclusion of the process.