APC Will Emerge Victorious, Says Gov. Radda as LG Polls Kick Off in Katsina

The Local Government Elections in Katsina State are underway, with over 3.5 million eligible voters expected to participate across 34 Local Government Areas (LGAs), 361 political wards, and 6,652 polling units. Governor Dikko Radda, alongside his wife, Zulaihat, Deputy Governor Faruk Jobe, former President Muhammadu Buhari, ex-governors Ibrahim Shema and Aminu Masari, as well as serving senators and ministers, all cast their votes in their respective polling units.

Speaking after casting his vote at the Kofar Katika Polling Unit in Radda Ward, Charanchi Local Government Area, Governor Radda expressed satisfaction with the large voter turnout, describing it as a testament to the maturity of Nigeria’s democracy. He assured the electorate that their votes would be counted, adding that the successful execution of key projects by his administration since taking office in 2023 would contribute to the victory of the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the elections.

Governor Radda expressed confidence that the high turnout of voters was an indication of the faith the people have in the electoral process and the current administration’s achievements. “With the kind of projects executed since we came on board, we believe so much in APC and APC will come out victorious,” Radda said, noting that the timely delivery of election materials further demonstrated the effectiveness of the electoral arrangements.

The Katsina State Independent Electoral Commission (KTSIEC) has assured voters of its readiness to conduct a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election, with five political parties taking part: the APC, Accord Party, Booth Party, AAC, and ADC.

KTSIEC Chairman, Alhaji Lawal Alhassan Faskari, highlighted the Commission’s preparations, announcing that the election would begin in the most distant LGAs. He emphasized the safety and integrity of election materials, including the recruitment and training of over 20,000 ad-hoc staff to oversee the exercise.

To maintain order and security, the Katsina State Police Command has imposed a movement restriction across all LGAs from 6:00 am to 4:00 pm on election day. Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Abubakar Musa, urged residents to comply with the restriction and maintain a peaceful atmosphere for the election. He also reminded voters of the emergency lines available for any urgent issues during the election.

The state government and KTSIEC are committed to ensuring a smooth election process, urging all eligible voters to come out and exercise their civic duties peacefully.