NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
A former governor of Nasarawa State, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has described the local government area chairmanship and councillorship election being held across the state as peaceful and credible. H said the ambience and performance of the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission, NASIEC, and the observers enhance the credibility of the process. “The peaceful nature of the way and manner they are conducting this local government election can be said to be very impressive. I have seen it. I have seen in different wards, how the elections are conducted. My view about the election is that it is a very popular election. It is free and fair and people are conducting themselves in the most expected manner, where the winner of this election will be the candidate, a chairman of the people of this constituency.
Al-Makura who spoke to reporters shortly after casting his vote at the Lungun Wambai polling unit of Gayam Ward in Lafia Local Government Area, praised the dual transparency of the NASIEC and other independent observers for helping to make the process credible. “I am very impressed with the officials and the manner they conducted all the procedures and processes. I am very impressed to see a very great team from the National Headquarters from our great Party who came to witness and ensure our compliance with the constitution of the Party and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” he said, noting the peer-reviewing participation of some other state electoral commissions.
The State chairman of the governing All Progressives Congress the State, Dr. Aliyu Bello also described the elections as peaceful Bello who addressed journalists after voting at the Rimi Uku polling unit of Gayam Ward, Lafia said the voter turn was impressive. He also described the elections as free and fair. “It is one of the freest and fairest elections and my joy is that everybody is free to exercise his or her franchise as enshrined in our constitution. And by the grace of God, as you can see, APC is coasting home to victory.” He attributed this would-be victory to his party’s unassailable presence in the state and the performance of its governance following the provisions of its manifesto.”
A chairmanship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Sagir Yahuza Ibrahim expressed satisfaction with the process. He commended NASIEC, and the security agencies for making adequate preparations, thus encouraging voters to go and vote.
Data from the electoral empire indicate that nine political parties are participating in the elections. The chairman will be elected across the thirteen local government areas and over a hundred and forty councillorship seats. Two prominent opposition parties in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigeria Peoples Party are not taking part.
Pix: People filing out to vote during the polls