Some voters in Kwara State say they shunned voting on Saturday because they had no doubt that the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Abdulfatah Ahmed, would win the election.
The voters, most of whom were supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, said, even if they voted, they were sure that Ahmed, who is also the state governor, would be re-elected.
Our correspondent, who monitored Ilorin West, East, and Ifelodun Local Government areas, observed that there was a low turnout of voters compared to the March 28 elections.
Of 245 voters, who collected PVCs at a polling unit in Oke-Ose, Ilorin East Local Government Area, 95 voters were accredited.
A PDP supporter in Ilorin West LGA, Tosho Ambali, said, his efforts to mobilise people to come out and vote were futile.
He said, “People have been weighed down by PDP’s defeat two weeks ago. I moved from one house to another for mobilisation but only a few of them came out. When we (PDP supporters) trooped out in the presidential election, we lost not to talk of now. I voted for PDP but it is glaring APC will win again.”
Gbolahon Kolawole, who registered at polling unit 007, Kure-Oja in Ilorin East LGA, said he did not exercise his civic right, claiming that it would not count at the end.
He said, “I decided to sit at home because I did not want to waste my energy. You can read the mood of most voters irrespective of the party they belong. Everybody knows who will win in Kwara already. My advice is just that APC should deliver at both federal and state levels in the next four years.”
A voter, who identified himself only as Yusuf (aka Mentor) in Shaare, Ifelodun LGA, said he would not vote when our correspondent approached him where he was playing table tennis around 12.30pm.
“I have kept my Permanent Voter Card for future use since I voted for that Mallam (Buhari). I have not benefitted from the state government. So, I can’t for APC,” he said.
When asked why he did not vote for any of the other party, Yusuf said, “I can’t waste my vote.”
Meanwhile, a chief of PDP in the state, Senator Makanjuola Ajadi, boasted that the governorship candidate of the party, Senator Simeon Ajibola, would win the state governorship election.
He, however, said the party would congratulate whoever emerges the winner of the election.
