2023: Bauchi State records large turnout of voters 

An impressive turnout of voters has so far been recorded in most polling units in Bauchi State for the presidential and National Assembly elections.

At the Ajiya 001 and 002 polling units Kofar Fadar in the Alkaleri Local Government Area, a large turnout of voters including the aged and women were seen queuing up for validation as early as 7 am to cast their votes.

Speaking to Journalists after he cast his vote, the Special Adviser to the Bauchi State Governor on Media, Mr Mukhtar Gidado commended INEC for the early arrival of materials and personnel for the exercise.

Gidado expressed confidence that voter apathy is a thing of the past as far as the 2023 general election is concerned in the State.

He also expressed optimism that the election would be peaceful, free and credible and also advised voters to be law-abiding.

At the BOI polling unit with code number 005 in Bogoro local government Area, large numbers of Voters were sighted and ready to cast their vote at 8:25 am.

There was a heavy presence of security personnel such as the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps mounting the polling units while the INEC officials were sighted setting up the unit. The atmosphere has generally been peaceful so far.

It was observed that at 7:50 am at the Pada polling unit with code number 03, Tilde Fulani in Toro local government Area, the commission personnel were setting up the polling unit with every necessary material for the voting exercise readily available.

Electorates consisting of both males and females were sighted in the queue and eagerly waiting to cast their votes for their choice of candidates.

However, in the Dan’iya Hardo ward of Bauchi local government which comprises both old and new Government Reserved Areas ( GRAs ), there was no presence of INEC officials nor voting materials as of 10:30am.

When the VON team visited Sa’adu Primary school polling unit, Winnie, ‘A’ polling unit as well as Sa’adu Zungur Primary school 111 and v polling unit, only a few voters were seen waiting for the INEC officials while there were no traces of security personnel there.

In Bakari Dukku Collaboration center where sensitive materials were being distributed around 9:30am, it was observed that all the officials to be deployed to the Dan’iya Hardo ward were still in the collation centre collecting their election materials with heavy presence of security personnel.