As the 2023 general elections approaches, the Birnin-Gwari Emirate Progressive Union, (BEPU), in Kaduna, has called on the Kaduna State Governor, constituted authorities and relevant stakeholders to negotiate with terrorists groups if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to conduct successful election in the area.
In an issued statement by the Chairman of the union, Is’haq Usman Kasai yesterday, and made available to newsmen in Kaduna, noted that, “Our major concern is our people including the internally displaced persons (IDPs) how they will be given the opportunity to exercise their franchise at their respective locations without any fear or intimidation.
“At this point, we wish to commend the effort made by the INEC in relocating some of the poling units from the sacked communities to various points where respective eligible voters are relocated and are residing, including the IDPs”.
He said this will indeed go a along way in providing them with the opportunity to exercise their franchise.
However, he stated that, “the second issue is on facilitating the movements of Election Officials and materials on the Election Day to various units in the Local Government, especially to areas where security problems are high, such as the Eastern and Western parts of the local government area.
“There are eleven political wards in Birnin-Gwari; and ten of these wards are facing security challenges, such that if measures are not proactively taken will hinder the election processes.
“It is a known fact that Birnin-Gwari local government area of Kaduna State is facing security challenge that is affecting many aspects of its development, including transportation, farming, education, economy, business among others; where about one hundred communities are sacked and about fifty thousand persons rendered internally displaced (IDPs) across various communities,” the statement declared.
