Voter turnout indication Nigerians are tired of current govt – Bauchi Speaker

The Speaker, Bauchi State House of Assembly, Abubakar Suleiman, has commended the large turnout of voters across the state, asserting that this is an indication that Nigerians are tired of the current administration in the country and are ready to usher in a new government.

The speaker stated this today while speaking with journalists shortly after casting his vote in the ongoing presidential and National Assembly elections at Tufffi Guda polling unit in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.

He expressed satisfaction with voter turnout across the state, saying that reports from across the state showed that everything was going on smoothly, except minor reports of little problems which had been rectified.

He then commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for the conduct of the ongoing elections.

While urging the electorate to feel free to vote for the right candidates with a view to salvaging the country, the speaker urged them to shun vote buying and selling, alleging that some politicians were buying votes in a bid to win the election.

“So far, I can say so far so good, because most of the complaints I have been receiving are minor complaints which we are able to rectify.

“The turnout of the electorate is very impressive from the reports I have been receiving from all over the state.

“I believe the turnout is not unconnected with the failure of the current Federal Government of Nigeria where a lot of things have escalated,” Sulaiman said.

He informed that one major complaint he received had to do with misrepresentation of the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines.

He cited an instance where a BVAS machine from Gumau in Toro Local Government Area of the state was erroneously sent to Unguwar Wawa in Ningi LGA.

“One of the major challenges experienced in the election is the misrepresentation of the BVAS machines.

“There are also some polling units that do not have election materials which we are also following up in order to resolve it. I have spoken with the EO and he said he will rectify it.

“If care is not taken, the people of that unit may be disenfranchised. I am calling on INEC to wake up and do better and I hope we see a difference in the next election,” he said.

According to the speaker: “Even though there are lapses in the elections, I believe that the appropriate authorities are learning all these mistakes.

“I believe that all these minor issues will be addressed before the conduct of the next elections. So I am calling on INEC to look into all these issues and address them.”

Meanwhile, the speaker has debunked the allegation by the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is working to rig the March 11 governorship election.

According to him, there was no need for the ruling party in the state to rig the governorship election in its favour, asserting that the PDP already has the support of the masses.

The speaker declared that the PDP government in Bauchi State had fulfilled all the promises it made to the people of the state when it came into power.