The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Dr Oliver Agundu, has expressed dissatisfaction with the low voter turnout at the ongoig Dekina-Okura II State Constituency by-election.
By Thompson Yamput
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Kogi, Dr Oliver Agundu, has expressed dissatisfaction with the low voter turnout at the ongoig Dekina-Okura II State Constituency by-election.
Agundu, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ayingba, while inspecting the exercise, on Saturday, blamed politicians for not sensitising their followers and the pockets of thuggeries that scared voters.
He said that, despite the early resumption of INEC officials for the exercise, some people of the area preferred going about their personal concerns than participate in the poll.
He said: “To be frank, the turnout for this by-election is so low and below expectation.
“The people seem to be more mindful of their activities than taking the election seriously to elect their leaders.
“We have situations where political thugs waylaid INEC officials and prevented them from reaching their polling units on time for the conduct of the election.
“This is so bad for us as a nation. We should know that election is a multi-stakeholders exercise as INEC alone can’t conduct it, especially when the people compromised,” he said.
He said that politicians must learn how to keep to their words and be committed to the promises they make as regards elections.
The REC commended the commission’s staff for their doggedness and security operatives for their professionalism and tremendous assistance for the smooth conduct of the election.
In a remark, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Miller Dantawaye, said, “So far, there is no arrest of any thug or miscreant over any misconduct”.
Dantawaye described the election as smooth and peaceful aside the low turnout of voters in most of the polling units.
He warned trouble makers to steer clear from the polling units so as not to force the police to wield the law against them.
NAN reports that the by-election is conducted to fill the vacancy created by the death of a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly, Enema Paul, on Dec.14, 2024, following a protracted illness.(NAN)