by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Brazing allegations of votes buying and intimidation have been widely reported in most poling units during Kaduna State federal constituency bye-election held Saturday.
Our Correspondent reported that the allegations of votes buying by agents, suspected to be supporters of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) party, and intimidation of voters by security operatives were reported in poling units in Ungwan Boro Dutse units in Chikun LGA.
Political party agents, led by the main opposition’s Peoples’ Democratic party (PDP), in Sabon Tasha ward, Emmanuel Yakubu of Sabon Exco Ward, confirmed this to our reporter at Philolo 84 Ungwan Boro poling unit.
Mr. Yakubu further alleged that, “APC supporters are giving voters cash, between N5,000 and N3,000 ‘behind the scene,’ and calling some others from home on phone to come and vote for their candidate, with money awarded.”
The PDP agent lamented that, “Front-and-back, left, right and center, voters were being called by the side by APC supporters and given alms before casting their votes.”
“In some cases,” he said, “people are being called on phone. Even now, as you can see them by my side by those, who know them and treated before casting votes, under the glare views of security operatives,” pointing at some directions where the incidents were taking place.
Both Boro Primary School, Philolo Dutse and Foresight School poling units voting centers, the situations were the same, as cash-carriers were sighted with some party supporters sharing to potential voters by the side.
Why party agents in some poling units complained bitterly against the APC votes buying, there were no complaints against other political parties by APC agents so far, even as agents in Foresight School polling unit said “everything was normal and peaceful.”
Our Correspondent, who monitored the exercise, reported that voting reportedly commenced around 9am – 10am Saturday, in most polling stations visited under Sabon Tasha ward. It was, however, not with issues and low turnout witnessed.
In Ungwan Boro Primary School, hosting unit C 30 and C 31, a black tinted Jeep with sealed plate number, suspected to be vote-buyer, was sighted with full police escort, with APC tag bearer carrying cash out of the vehicle to a gathering of voters at the back of primary school near the entrance gate.
With heavy vehicles in convoy, many described them as “APC Coordinator,” who stormed the voting center, around 11am, as bundles of money were sighted in the hand of a man, who bailed out of the car, to a corner behind the primary school building block, by roadside.
In some polling centres, most voters were seated – waiting for a (political) party to buy their votes, while only few were cueing on line for vote casting, as some voters insisted that until their votes are bought, they will not cast their votes.
“I will rather take it home without voting,” an electorate told our reporter, when asked, if he has no any preferred candidate in mind to vote for.
Our Correspondent also reported that, as at 2:40 pm, Foresight School poling unit Ungwan Boro, with 500 registered voters, had only about 50 accredited voters.