By Ishaya Ibrahim and Onyewuchi Ojinnaka.
Unlike the Presidential election held two weeks ago, the gubernatorial and House of Assembly election has witnessed very low turn out of voters.
Voters are scanty at polling units as most people interviewed by TheNiche said they have lost interest and confidence in the election.
They made reference to the outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly election held two weeks ago, saying that the peoples’ votes did not count.
In the polling unit opposite Oshopey Plaza on Allen Avenue, Lagos which had more than 1,500 registered voters, only 100 people voted. As at the time of filing this report, vote counting was underway.
A visit to some of the polling units (PU) such as 010 in Alhaji Davies Street, 009 in Abata Street, 008 in Onyia Street, two booths PU 007 in Opeloyeru Street and 006 in Orewunmi Street showed that voters turnout was at its lowest ebb.
It was so glaring that one of the voters whose name is Saidi Alade, volunteered to ring a bell round the streets, urging people to come out and vote for candidate of their choice, but no positive response.
One of the voters posited that the outcome of last presidential election may have caused the low turnout of voters because “people are demoralised.”
Another man who refused to disclose his name said ” I cannot vote because my vote doesn’t count.”
TheNiche gathered that card readers in all the units functioned well. The security men were present in the units and the situation was calm and peaceful.
As at the time of this report, only 69 voters were recorded in PU 009 while 008 recorded 49 voters.
The low voter turnout is not only limited to Lagos State.
In Akwa Ibom State, some of the polling units in the Maritime Academy in Oron, had less than 50 voters, as against the more than 200 people that showed up to vote on February 23 in the presidential election.
In Kwara State, the situation is not different.
Senate President Bukola Saraki decried the low turnout of voters compared to what obtained during the February 23 presidential/National Assembly election.
Saraki arrived at his polling unit (006) at Ajikobi Ward, Agbaji area of Ilorin West Local Government Area at about 11.07am to cast his vote.