Kaduna: el-Rufai alleges voters’ intimidation

Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, has alleged that in Southern Kaduna, there were reports of voters intimidation, which favoured a particular opposition party, thereby deeming the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the area.

He spoke after casting his vote at his Unguar Sarki Polling Unit.

He said reports reaching him indicated that voters were forced to vote for a certain political party in Southern Kaduna.

Besides, armoured personal vehicle and other military vehicles and motorcycles manned by stern-looking and combat- ready security personnel were seen in strategic locations within Kaduna metropolis.

They were found patrolling major roads in Kawo, Unguar Sarki, Ahmadu Bello way, independence way, Kachia road and Aliyu Akilu road in combatant forms.

Although no any untoward incidence was recorded as at time of filing this report, there was quite in many quarters, especially in Kaduna North Local Council, where many polling stations could not have the expected number of eligible voters, as several children were found loitering around the areas.

At the LEA  Primary School Kawo Kaduna where the governorshipl candidate of the All Progressives Congress ( APC), Senator Uba Sani cast his vote, the school compound, which served as a cluster of about four or more polling units, was sparsely populated.

Even when a convoy accompanied by some security operatives ushered in the APC gubernatorial candidate to cast his vote, the frenzy atmosphere immediately died when the Senator representing Kaduna Central, Sani and his close aides left.

Shortly after Uba Sani cast his vote, his long time boss and Governor of Kaduna State, el-Rufai came to the unit together with his media aide, Muyiwa Adekeye and a few others, presumably to show solidarity to the gubernatorial hopeful, Uba Sani.

The governor, who dressed in a simple T shirt and trouser, appeared calm and unperturbed, often waving to the cheering few, who murmured that el-Rufai was a native of the area and had his early education in the LEA Primary School Kawo.

Before then, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, also a native of the area and cousin of Governor el-Rufai, accompanied by her aides, came to the Primary school and went round to examine what was going on .

Meanwhile, the governor alleged that voters in Southern Kaduna  were intimidated and asked to vote for the candidates of a certain political party.

The headquarters of Southern Kaduna, Kafanchan, was over two hours journey from Kaduna metropolis.

Southern Kaduna was a PDP stronghold and the gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party, Jonathan Asake is also of Southern Kaduna extraction.

However, dismissing the governor’s allegation of voters intimidation in Southern Kaduna Zone, an official of the PDP, who is also the party’s state collation officer, Danjuma Sarki said that “there was nothing like intimidation of voters in Southern Kaduna, where I came to monitor the election “.

“Voters came to their various polling units, cast their votes freely. The atmosphere is calm and peaceful,” he added.

Sarki remarked that “defeat is now stirring APC on the face that is why he is making the allegation of voters intimidation “.