Guber election: Why we ‘re not voting – Taraba voters

The ongoing governorship and state House of Assembly election in Taraba State is characterised by low turnout of voters across the length and breadth of the state.

Media Talk Africa observed a lot of eligible voters going about their daily business despite the restrictions on movements.

Sunday Adda, who regretted voting during the presidential election, said the “failure of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to adhere to the electoral promises” forced him not to participate in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.

Wondering why the Commission could not upload the presidential results while voting was ongoing, he said the fear of a repeat of that scenario compelled him to stay away from “today’s exercise.”

Other voters cited the alleged inability of the authorities concerned to provide adequate security for voters and electoral officers, as the reason for their withdrawal from the exercise.

Citing the attacks on election materials in Akate Ward earlier today, Elizabeth Hassan, said “such attacks personally forced me and some of my friends to stay indoors.”

Hassan, who claimed to have participated in the February 25th election, said: “The gunshots I heard today in Akate, Donga council, is enough to force voters from coming out to vote.”

Accreditation and voting ought to commence by 8:30 am, but the process did not start at the scheduled time in polling units visited by Media Talk Africa mainly due to poor voters’ turnout.

Some polling units in Wukari, Karim-Lamido, Ardo-Kola and Jalingo, the state capital, among others, were scanty at 10 am.

Some INEC ad hoc staff who spoke with Media Talk Africa expressed dismay that despite their presence in their various polling units in the early hours of the day with voting materials, voters were “nowhere to be seen.”