Kano re-run: Politicians resort to vote buying

Political actors in the re-run governorship election slated for March 23rd, in the 172 polling units across the 44 local government areas of Kano state have resorted to buying of permanent voter’s cards from potential voters in their desperate moves to clinch the mandate of the masses for the next four years.

Police authorities confirmed the arrest of five suspects over alleged buying of voters’ cards ahead of the supplementary election.

The spokesman of the command who confirmed the development to our correspondent said the suspects were arrested at the controversial Gama Ward of Nassarawa local government area.

Gama Ward has being the centre of attraction for the two political parties in the re-run, with both parties trying to secure more votes from the area following the alleged destruction of results of the ward in the last Saturday’s election by some thugs believed to be from the ruling party, the APC.

Addressing the press on Wednesday at Bompai police headquarters, the Public Relations Officer of the command, Abdullahi Haruna said “Based on credible information two women, namely Sa’adatu Ismail 39yrs old of Brigade Qtrs and Hajiya Halima Abba 55yrs of Tal’udu Qrts Kano were arrested while purchasing Permanent Voters Card from unsuspecting Voters at Gama Qrts Nassarawa LGA at prices ranging from N500.00k and above.

He said 8 Permanent Voters Cards and cash sum of N10,000.00k were recovered from suspects.

He also confirmed the arrest of two other suspects identified as Mukhtar Suleman and Idris Dankanawa both of Gama ‘A’ Qrts Nassarawa LGA.

He said they duo was arrested on suspicion of PVC purchase in their neighbouhood at Gama Qtrs. He said the suspects were rescued by the police from mob action by the youth who observed their movements.

One Mukhtar Shuaibu a.k.a Ustaz ‘M’ of Dandinshe Gabas, Dala LGA Kano was also arrested for the offence of Permanent Voters Card buying. He confessed to have purchased 2 Voters Card at a cost of N3000.00 at Dandinshe qtrs.

Haruna said investigation has commenced after which the suspects would to be charged to court for prosecution.

It could be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC on Monday declared the March 9th election inconclusive on the bases that the margin of votes between the two front runners at the poll was less than the number of rejected votes as contained in sections 26 and 53 of the electoral act 2010.