The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Kaduna State chapter, has strongly condemned the conduct of the October 19 local council elections in Kaduna, describing the process as an “electoral robbery” that denied the people of the state their fundamental democratic rights.
According to CAN, the elections were marred by widespread irregularities and deliberate efforts by the Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission (KADSIECOM) to prevent voters from exercising their franchise.
In a statement issued by the CAN Chairman for Kaduna State, Rev. Caleb Ma’aji, on Monday, the association expressed its deep disappointment with both the Kaduna State Government and KADSIECOM.
He accused them of showing a blatant disregard for democratic principles and values. Rev. Ma’aji explained that the local government elections were eagerly anticipated by the people of Kaduna as a rare opportunity to elect representatives at the grassroots level. However, the people were ultimately denied this chance.
“Reports from our officials across the various local government areas in Kaduna show that voters waited the entire day for voting materials that never arrived. After spending hours in line, expecting to cast their votes, the people were left disgraced and frustrated when they realized they wouldn’t be able to participate in the election,” Ma’aji said.
Despite this widespread disenfranchisement, KADSIECOM proceeded to announce the winners for the chairmanship and councillor positions in all 23 local government areas without disclosing any details on the number of votes cast.
The chairperson of the commission, Hajia Hajara Mohammed, did not provide any vote tallies for the winning candidates, nor for the candidates representing other political parties who contested the elections, raising serious concerns about the transparency of the entire process.
Rev. Ma’aji further noted that the people of Kaduna had begun to develop trust in the administration of Governor Uba Sani, believing that the governor was making efforts to involve citizens in his governance.
However, the way in which the council elections were conducted has now cast doubt on those efforts.
The CAN leader stated that the governor and KADSIECOM must act urgently to correct the situation by ensuring that all eligible votes are properly counted and that the true winners, regardless of their political affiliations, are declared.
Ma’aji called on the state government to uphold international best practices and the rule of law in electoral processes.
He emphasized that democratic procedures should not only be followed but must also be seen to be followed transparently, especially in a modern society where citizens’ rights must be respected and protected.
Ensuring that elections are free, fair, and credible is vital for the peaceful coexistence and development of Kaduna State, he stressed.
The CAN chairman also urged Christian faithful in the state to remain calm and patient, expressing hope that justice will ultimately prevail and the “abnormalities” of the election will be addressed.
He appealed to Governor Uba Sani, reminding him of his pledge to govern with fairness, equity, and justice for all citizens.
According to Ma’aji, the governor’s reputation, which he has worked hard to build, should not be tarnished by the failures of the local electoral process.
He urged the governor to ensure that corrective actions are taken for the sake of unity, peace, and progress in Kaduna.
