Suspected Boko Haram members reporetedly prevented the Yobe state governor, Ibrahim Gaidam, from voting in the presidential and National Assembly election.
This was disclosed in a statement from the Director General, Media affairs to the governor, Abdullahi Bego made available to newsmen on Saturday.
Bego said the early morning attacks by the sect members in the state prevented the governor from partaking in the exercise.
The statement read: “Security agents advised the governor to sacrifice participating in the election.
“This is because of the incident in Gaidam town early in the day, which has already been brought under control and voting is now underway there, the security agencies would naturally seek to reinforce and increase security around the governor for him to travel to cast his vote.
“That increased security around the governor will mean that vital security resources that are needed elsewhere in the state would have to be diverted and allocated to the governor.
“The government made the decision – in consultation with the security agencies – that it is better and more useful for the security agents, including soldiers, police, Civil Defence, DSS, etc to focus their attention on providing security for the election throughout the state.
“As things stand now, voting is going on successfully across the state and His Excellency Governor Gaidam is pleased and grateful to the people for the large turnout at polling units throughout the state”.
“Governor Geidam, who is also a senatorial candidate in the Presidential and National Assembly election, commended security agencies for their effort to ensure a peaceful and successful election across the State.”
