By Our Correspondent
The local government election in Borno has been conducted peacefully on Saturday amidst tight security with massive turnout of voters in Mafa, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Konduga council areas where Governor Babagana Zulum, Dr. Ali Dalori who is the Deputy National Chairman North of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central) and Kadiri Rahis, member representing MMC at the national assembly casted and exercise their franchise at their various polling units.
Our Correspondent report that the election was contested between six political parties, comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP) and Allied People’s Movement (APM), even though the main opposition PDP fielded only four Chairmanship Candidates out of the 27 local government areas in the state with few Councillorship candidates out of the 312 wards.
Zulum voted at Ajari II polling unit 006 in Mafa Ward, headquarters of the local government.
Speaking to Journalists after casting his vote, Governor Zulum vowed to enhance the electoral process at the local government level.
“I have seen the turnout, it is encouraging, but we shall continue to improve on this. The State Independent Electoral Commission’s performance needs to be enhanced,” Zulum said.
He also said, “elections at the local government level have not been consistent and are not been conducted at the due time. This has to be corrected, henceforth, we shall ensure that elections at the local government level are done as and when due. The quality of the election will also be improved.
“Our electoral process has to be enhanced, the process has to be modest and then we need honest people to contest for elections and we also want voters that can tell the difference, voters that can choose the best without sentiments,” the governor added.
Our Correspondent in Maiduguri who also went round several polling units in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere however observed low turn out in some polling units, even as voting commenced at 10:45 in the morning at Lawan Asheikh 003 and Zannah Kazalma polling units in Shehuri South ward of the metropolis.
However, there was large turn out of voters in Dalori, Wanori and Konduga town in Konduga local government area.
Speaking shortly after casting their votes, Senator representing Borno Central Kaka Shehu Lawan and Member representing Maiduguri in the House of representatives, Abdulkadir Rahis, commended the state electoral commission for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Deputy National Chairman North, All Progressives Congress APC, Honourable Ali Dalori appreciated voters for their orderliness throughout the voting period.
According to him, the conduct of local government election signifies that peace has returned to the state.
He therefore enjoined who ever won after the election to carry everybody along and display an open door policy for the betterment of the electorate.
Dalori also expressed optimism that with the massive people oriented projects executed under the leadership of Governor Zulum across the 27 council areas, voters will have no option than to elect all APC candidates after the polls, which he described as devoid of any electoral malpractices or manipulations.
Vanguard