BY AMOS TAUNA, KADUNA – Governor Nasir el-Rufai of Kaduna State says his administration’s interest is to set a good example for credible, free and fair elections in Nigeria despite all odds
This is even as he maintained that the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) adopted for the Kaduna State Local Government polls has simplified and made the voting process easy for the electorate.
Speaking with journalists after casting his vote at Ungwar Sarki Polling unit 024, Mallam el-Rufai said his administration was all out to prove that Nigerians can hold peaceful and credible elections without distorting the process.
The Governor, who pledged that the State’s local government polls is not only fair, but will serve as a reference point in the country, however expressed worries that the voters’ accreditation was done manually instead of using the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s card reader. According to him, “The problem emanated from the refusal of INEC to allow the state electoral commission access to the card reader machines.
“After all our engagements with the INEC and assurances, at the last minute to the elections, they said they could not provide us with the six thousand card readers that we needed because they are preparing for Osun and Ekiti elections and the 2019 elections.
“The election process is smooth. I was accredited; the voting was smooth, it took less than 10 seconds. I think it is a good beginning and hope it will end as it began.”
Giving further insights on the Saturday’s exercise, Mallam el-Rufai said; “We heard of issues in two local governments of Jaba and Kaura in southern Kaduna. The electoral commission has to postpone the elections; they would fix a new date for the elections.”
In assuring that the situation was under control and the State electoral umpire, KADSIECOM would ensure elections hold in the affected areas soonest, Governor el-Rufai said; “We hope these two local governments will concentrate on security and logistics resources on the day of the scheduled election to avoid what happened there.”
