Kaduna by-election Witnesses Low Turnout, Vote-buying

There was a low turnout in the Kaduna bye-election today in the Chikun Local Government Area of the state as voters shunned the exercise.

Areas which recorded low turnout of voters include Sabon-Tasha, Narayi, and Maraban Rido in Chikun LGA.

However, at Makera, Barnanwa in Kaduna South LGA of the state, there was an impressive turnout of voters where party agents alleged vote-buying.

Gora is one of the most populated wards in Kakuri, Kaduna South Local Government Area of the state.

Although earlier, there were hiccups at one of the Kakuri Hausa ward polling units as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System malfunctioned, the issue was rectified and voting went on peacefully.

But allegations of vote-buying were recorded at the Barnawa Market Polling Unit.

Party agents alleged that at the polling unit, a vote was bought between N10,000 and N15,000.

Speaking to newsmen today, an agent of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Veronica Okuna, alleged there was vote-buying at her polling unit.

She said that some party agents paid between N10,000 and N15,000 per voter.

However, the APC agent, Aminu Yakubu countered the allegation, saying there was nothing like vote-buying at the polling unit.

He noted that the polling unit was full of the party’s supporters.

Meanwhile, men of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, operatives of the Department of State Services as well as the Federal Road Safety Corps were on the ground to ensure smooth and peaceful conduct of the election.