By Abubakar Rabilu Gombe
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the Gombe/Kwami/Funakaye Federal Constituency by-election, Engr. Dr. Usman Maijama’a Kallamu, has commended the peaceful and orderly conduct of the election.
Kallamu spoke shortly after casting his vote at Daban Fulani in Kwami Local Government Area, saying the exercise was progressing smoothly across the constituency.
He expressed satisfaction with the arrangements put in place by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, saying there were no major incidents in the areas he visited.
“From what I have seen so far, particularly here in Kwami and Daban Fulani, as well as in other areas across Gombe and Funakaye, the election is going very well,” he said.
The APC candidate also expressed confidence in his chances of winning the election. “My expectation, as Usman, is to win the election. That is what I am expecting,” he said.
On allegations of intimidation or denial of access to opposition parties, Kallamu said he believed all political parties had been given the opportunity to participate in the exercise.
He, however, said opposition parties were in the best position to explain whether they had encountered any challenges during the election.
Also speaking on the conduct of the poll, a lecturer at Gombe State University and public affairs analyst, Prof. Umar Adamu, commended voters for turning out to exercise their civic responsibility.
Adamu said the election had remained peaceful, with men and women casting their ballots without fear or intimidation.
He said electoral officials had made adequate arrangements from the early hours of the morning, adding that eligible voters who completed accreditation without identity-related challenges were allowed to vote.
The analyst attributed the relatively low turnout in some areas partly to the limited number of political parties participating in the election.
Similarly, a voter, Usman Majidadi, who spoke after casting his ballot at Kofar Shugaba Adamu, Bakin Kasuwa, said the voting process was peaceful and well organised.
Majidadi said he was accredited before voting and that there was no disturbance at the polling unit, added that voting commenced at about 10am and continued peacefully as voters conducted themselves in an orderly manner.
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