The Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has called for enhancement of electoral process in the state, stating that consistency in conduct of local government election matters for the development of the state.
Zulum said this while speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Ajari II polling unit 006 in Mafa Ward, headquarters of the local government, during the Saturday conduct of local government election in Borno State. According to him, the election which was held amidst tight security, recorded impressive turnout but more needed to be done to improve the quality of the electoral process.
The Governor said, “I have seen the turnout, it is encouraging, but we shall continue to improve on this. The State Independent Electoral Commission’s performance needs to be enhanced.”
He added, “elections at the local government level have not been consistent and are not been conducted at the due time. This has to be corrected, henceforth, we shall ensure that elections at the local government level are done as and when due. The quality of the election will also be improved.
“Our electoral process has to be enhanced, the process has to be modest and then we need honest people to contest for elections and we also want voters that can tell the difference, voters that can choose the best without sentiments.”
Our Correspondent reported that the election was contested between six political parties, comprising the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Labour Party (LP) and Allied People’s Movement (APM), even though the main opposition PDP fielded only four Chairmanship Candidates out of the 27 local government areas in the state with few councillorship candidates out of the 312 wards.
The election which recorded a massive turnout of voters in Mafa, Maiduguri Metropolitan Council (MMC) and Konduga council areas, and in Dalori, Wanori and Konduga town in Konduga local government area, however, witnessed low turnout in several polling units in Maiduguri Metropolitan Council and Jere.
Speaking shortly after casting their votes, Senator representing Borno Central, Kaka Shehu Lawan, and Member representing Maiduguri in the House of Representatives, Abdulkadir Rahis, commended the state electoral commission for the smooth conduct of the exercise.
Deputy National Chairman North, APC, Honourable Ali Dalori appreciated voters for their orderliness throughout the voting period.
According to him, the conduct of local government election signifies that peace has returned to the state.
He therefore enjoined whoever won after the election to carry everybody along and display an open door policy for the betterment of the electorate.
Dalori also expressed optimism that with the massive projects executed under the leadership of Governor Zulum across the 27 council areas, voters will have no option than to elect all APC candidates at the polls, describing the exercise as devoid of any electoral malpractices or manipulations. End
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