IBRAHEEM MUHAMMAD
Local government election was held peacefully across Nasarawa State on Wednesday.
The State Governor, Abdullahi Sule cast his vote at his Gudi Motor Park 002 polling unit, Gudi, his country home, in Akwanga Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists shortly after casting his vote, Engineer Sule apologised to voters that turned up for the exercise for the delay being experienced in conducting the elections in parts of the state.
He blamed logistics issues as well as the antics of some unpatriotic elements disrupting the distribution of election materials for the delay, stressing that his administration is committed to conducting credible, free and fair elections.
He commended the Nasarawa State Independent Electoral Commission (NASIEC) for their efforts towards the conduct of the exercise.
“We want to apologise to the people that come out to vote, because if there are delays, it affects them morally,” he said.
Explaining why he is voting around 2pm, Engineer Sule said he deliberately refused to be accorded special consideration when some polling units are experiencing delay in the conduct of the election.
He specifically instructed NASIEC to ensure materials are distributed to other polling units before that of his polling unit.
The governor confirmed that the council polls commenced around 11am in some parts of the state, such as Nasarawa, Karu, Akwanga and Wamba local government areas, adding that election has been ongoing smoothly in other parts of the state.
Engineer Sule reassured that the election would be conducted transparently and with the fear of God.
He equally commended the peaceful nature of the exercise but disclosed that four persons, including a chairmanship candidate of an opposition party, were arrested in Wamba Local Government Area, for ballot box snatching.
The governor further disclosed that the suspects had since been handed over to the police in Lafia, for proper investigation.
He emphasised that in spite of attempts to disrupt the smooth conduct of the exercise by some disgruntled elements, his administration is committed to conducting the local government elections in order to satisfy the yearnings of the people to elect leaders at the third-tier of governance.