Update: Bimbago South residents boycott 2020 election
As of the close of voting today, no resident of Bimbago South Electoral Area in the Bunkpurugu Constituency in the North East region showed up at the polling station to cast their ballot.
The decision by the residents to boycott the voting exercise was in protest of lack of social amenities in the area.
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The residents declined to vote when officials of the Electoral Commission (EC) arrived at the community Monday morning to set up their equipment.
From the start to the close of voting today, only EC officers and empty electoral materials were found at the polling stations.
Graphic online had gathered that all attempts by the Member of Parliament for the area, Solomon Boar and other government officials to convince the aggrieved residents to rescind their decision proved futile
A youth leader in the community, Mr Tibila Daniel told Graphic online that members of the community had decided not to vote in Monday's General Election because they felt they had been neglected by authorities for too long.
He said the entire Bimbagu South Electoral area and about five communities were lacking development and that several appeals to authorities over the years had yielded no positive result.
“We don’t have electricity and water, and our school building is a death trap for the students. We don’t have good roads so unless our demands are provided we are not voting and we will never vote in any election" he noted.
When contacted, the North East Regional Director of EC, Mr Gabriel Manu said the electoral officers had set up their equipment at the polling stations but the residents failed to show up and exercise their franchise.
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"I understand they have declined to vote because they have not provided them with some developmental projects," he said.
He indicated that the EC officers were still at the polling station as government officials continued to negotiate with the residents to rescind their decision, adding that it was not under the mandate of the EC to interfere in that matter.