Kaduna electoral commission cancels LG poll in Zaria

Hassan Ibrahim, Kaduna - 30.01.2008

Following the destruction of public property and threat to security, safety of election materials and personnel, Kaduna State Indpendent Electoral Commission (KSIECOM), has cancelled the result of last Saturday's election in Zaria Local Government Area of the state.

The Commission said it had to cancel the election and same might be done in Kachia Local Government Area. Speaking to newsmen on Monday, the Executive Chairman of the Commission, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Sanga, said the post-election violence in Kachia has so far led to the torching of the collating centre in the local government and nearby houses.

“The election was successful except for some minor incidents of breach of peace reported from few centres for which swift action had been taken to contain the situation.

The election exercise in Zaria Local Government Area could not continue due to threat to security and safety of election materials and personnel and has therefore, been cancelled. A new date would be announced in due course for the conduct of a fresh election exercise in the local government,” he said.

“The Commission is satisfied with the way and manner the election exercise was organised to elect chairmen for the 23 local government, and councillor for 255 wards across the state. In all, 40 political parties participated in the election at various levels,” he added.

He lamented the violence in Kachia, adding that “it is regrettable that some minor incidents took place in Kachia Local Government Area after the election. At the collation centre, some problems erupted, leading to the burning of the collation centre and some houses in the area. Nobody was however, killed, thus, we are still expecting results from the local government area.”

“Our staff are still retrieving copies of the results held by presiding officers and ward election officers.