The ongoing local government election in Plateau is recording poor voter turnout as residents of the state shun the exercise in protest over the disqualification of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from participating in the polls.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some polling units in Jos North and Jos South local government areas of the state are experiencing low turnout.

Some of the areas visited include Hwolshe, Tudun Wada, Jenta Adamu, Gyel, Bukuru low-cost, Rantya, Sha’aka, Abattoir, Zawan, among others.

At the polling unit located at the College of Mary Immaculate, Zawan, 12 security personnel were seen on ground with about six voters sighted trying to cast their votes.

A voter, Pam Dung, told NAN that the low turnout was due to the disqualification of the major opposition party in the state, the PDP, to participate in the polls.

“I’m not happy today because this is the first time in the history of this state that the PDP will not participate in the local government election.

“As far as I am concerned, it is only one party that is participating in the election today and I can’t waste my time and energy to go for such an election where we all know the result even before the end of the polls,” he said.

In Zawan district of Jos South for instance, residents were reported to have shunned the election in order to bury their loved one, while others simply went to their farms.

However, another resident, Nandom Wuyep, said the election had so far been peaceful and prayed that it remained so till the end of the exercise.

“I am happy because there is no violence here; you can see nobody is causing problems to the electoral officials.

“I pray and hope that the election will be conducted in some areas with the same atmosphere even with the voter apathy,” he said.

(NAN)