Kaduna By-Election Records Low Voter Turnout Amidst Apathy and Distrust

The by-election in Kaduna State on Saturday witnessed a low turnout of voters despite intensive campaigns by political parties fielding candidates in the poll.

Although election materials reportedly arrived early at most polling units, voter presence remained sparse across several areas.

Polling stations in Trikania, Chikun, Kajuru, and Sabon Gari Zaria recorded only a handful of voters, even as security operatives were deployed in large numbers to maintain order.

A cross-section of residents who spoke to DAILY POST attributed the poor turnout to lingering doubts about the credibility of the electoral process.

Alhaji Musa Inuwa, a car dealer in Sabo Tasha, said many people had lost faith in elections due to past experiences where the results did not reflect the will of the people.

“We have suffered in the past casting our votes but at the end our votes were not recognised. The party that was declared winner was different from the party that actually won at the polling unit,” he alleged.

Similarly, Mrs Rhoda Ajanaku in Trikania recalled her disappointment during the last local government election in the state.

“We were all at the Babandodo collection centre when INEC officials arrived late with half of the materials, saying there were no voting papers.

It took the intervention of security agencies before some of us sneaked out of the centre because later they were throwing stones and breaking school doors,” she narrated.

Several other voters shared similar experiences, citing irregularities and disenfranchisement as reasons for staying away from Saturday’s exercise.

However, not all voters chose to boycott the polls. Dr Joseph M. Aboki, who participated in the election, urged citizens not to allow past disappointments to discourage them from exercising their civic duty.

“I just voted. We should not allow the negative experiences of the past to discourage the present.

There can be improvement. Let us play our parts and leave the rest to God Almighty,” he said.

Despite the low participation, security across Kaduna State remained calm, with officials maintaining close watch over the electoral process.