They were not involved in the actual voting as they were not qualified. But children were a strong part of the Katsina North senatorial by-election which produced Ahmad Babba-Kaita as senator-elect.
The district, where President Muhammadu Buhari hails from, became vacant following the death of Mustapha Bukar on April 4.
From Daura, the district’s capital, to Kankia, Bindawa, Baure and other towns, children from age two and above made their ways to polling units on their own.
They engaged in different activities, economic and political.
On the economic side, many were seen at polling areas displaying their wares which mostly were food stuffs, some others hawked from one polling unit to another.
PREMIUM TIMES reporter who covered the election in this report chronicles the activities of children at polling units.


THE PERFECT EXAMPLE – KANKIA
Located in the bustling town of Kankia, three polling units set up in Bakin Kasua Primary School presented a perfect example of children’s activities in the electoral process.
Kankia itself is significant for the election; it is hometown of the candidates of the two major political parties, Kabir Babba-Kaita of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Ahmad Babba-Kaita of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The three polling units; Bakin Kasua PU 005, 006 and 010 are all located within the school.
By 10:40 a.m. when this reporter first landed in the polling units, it was difficult to tell who were more; adults or children. In fact, it is safe to say the number of children exceeded that of adults. At this time of the election day, the children could be safely categorised into two.
The first group comprised those who came to sell food items and placed themselves at strategic places within the polling units. While some created what could be called mini shops for themselves under trees, a good number preferred to hawk their wares.
They sold zobo local beverage, kolanut, Rogo dafawa (cooked cassava), sweets, baked foods etc. For many voters, election observers and journalists, these children were the messiahs who delivered them from hunger.
Children in the second group were not hard to spot. They slightly outnumbered the ones in the first group. Dressed in smeary attires, children from age two and above wandered around the three polling units. They certainly did not understand the process but were keen on feeding their eyes with all items and happenings. Often times, they got so close to the ballot boxes to the wrath of security agencies. Certainly, a measure had to be devised to control them before the end of voting.


THE LOCAL RUMBLE AND AHMAD’s WELCOME
Still in Bakin Kasua Primary School. The time is 12:15p.m. and voting exercise continues in peace.
Until this period, the children were still polarised in two groups of sellers and spectators. But this changed just as the APC candidate, Ahmad Babba-Kaita approached the polling unit.
More like they were assigned to do so, the children quickly changed their course. Almost immediately they sighted Mr Ahmad, they became what many would call ‘hailers.’ From the road that linked the school, children in hundreds, fused with adults, form the entourage of Mr Ahmad.

LOYAL HAILERS

The time now is 1:17p.m. Mr Ahmad had decided to leave the queue for a tree shade after queuing for about an hour but he wouldn’t be left alone.

For the about 150 metres walk from where he queued to the tree shade, he was flanked both sides, back and front by cheerful children. This time, they were joined even by those who hawked.
When Mr Ahmad finally decided to relax under the tree, the children mounted the tree top, some on slim branches, to maintain their entourage. Others gathered around him as though they were in a political meeting.

They would not bulge even after a series of protests by Mr Ahmad for them to retreat.
By 1:42p.m., still in the hot afternoon, another rush ensued.
About 50 metres to Mr Ahmad’s sitting position, a good Samaritan had decided to feed the children on dafaffen Rogo (cooked cassava), a local delicacy.
The kind gesture caught them unawares, hence, the tone of the struggle. While the fit ran to grab at least a handful of the meal, those on the tree made their ways from the high elevation. They were indeed hungry.
Stampede, another stampede and more stampedes characterised the struggle.

By the time dust finally settled, many of the children had sustained injuries. But they were not deterred. They returned to their position with Mr Ahmad.

HOW SECURITY OFFICIALS COPED

Section. 129 (1) of the Electoral Act states that “no person shall on the date an election…loiter without lawful excuse after voting or after being refused to vote…in a polling unit or within a distance of 300 metres of a polling unit”

The law says that any person who contravenes this “commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N100, 000 or imprisonment for 6 months for every such offence.”
This is the ideal but the reality in Kankia did not conform.
Perhaps, a N100, 000 would have been paid in multiple folds should security operatives decide to adhere strictly to this provision.
Apart from wandering about the three polling units, the children were uncomfortably close to ballot boxes and election materials.
At almost every seconds, security officials at the polling units had to shoo them away but it did not work as the children kept coming back like the proverbial stubborn goat.
By 2:00p.m. when it seemed almost impossible to control their interference, officials at each polling units decided to dedicated at least one security officer to shooing away children from the polling units.

INEC NOT AWARE

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Oluwole Osaze-Uzi, said the commission was not aware of situation as it was not contained in any of the reports submitted after the election.
“You are the one telling me about that,” he said Monday afternoon. “I’m not aware of that. I didn’t see that in our report.”
Mr Osaze-Uzi however said the children like every other persons ought to maintain a distance as prescribed by the law.
“But ordinarily on Election Day, within the vicinity of the polling unit, you ought to have a distance… to be there.”
Austin Aigbe of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) condemned the development.
“How did the children get to the polling station? The process is simply, on election day, there are restriction of movement, and only eligible voters with PVC are allowed a walking distance to their respective polling unit. The Nigerian constitution prescribe that a person must be 18 or above to be eligible to vote. Allowing children to participate in elections is, therefore the highest level of violation of our electoral laws,” he said.
By 4:00p.m., when the counting and sorting started, the children were still very much on ground. In Hausa language, they joined the Presiding Officer in counting of ballot papers.
What followed was jubilation across the three polling units, still led by children.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/280916-close-shots-how-children-participated-in-katsina-north-senatorial-by-election.html

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Well we all know what happens there, I mean during election even cows vote

Modify: (I am exaggerating)

An overview of 2019

That's not a new thing, It is their DNA

That is how they expect to re-elect PMB.

Future bokoharam...

Fear North

PDP trying to play the victim card. Spare me the crap. Both APC and PDP used child voters.
All these BMC people sef.
Both parties are same.

I wonder what Premiumtimes plan to achieve with this news knowing So many people wouldn't bother to read it and will only make comments based on the mischievous topic.

Ijeshaooduaman:
PDP trying to play the victim card. Spare me the crap. Both APC and PDP used child voters.
All these BMC people sef.
Both parties are same.

Go back and read the body of the useless post. Children didn't vote and weren't even allowed near ballot boxes by security personal. Most of the kids were there just to sell zobo and the likes with the rest just being spectators like any other political gathering, yet the Premiumtimes dude and Jonny would want us to by reading the headline alone assume the kids voted.

down here in delta state ughelli especially the inec guy will look at peoples face and decides they are not up to 18, imagine turning back a friend who is above 21 that she is under 18

Sai Barber

Dis is a lame attempt at trying to justify where there are underaged voters in polling stations in d North... We all know underage voting in d North is very normal and d edge d North always uses in every election... Dey didn't partake in d actual voting abi but according to d story "children were uncomfortably close to ballot boxes and election materials and In Hausa language, they joined the Presiding Officer in counting of ballot papers.
What followed was jubilation across the three polling units, still led by children..." Make Una dey fool unaselves in d name of trying to sell dis nonsense to Nigerians

De justify election rigging there.

What are they participating for if they are not supposed to vote, this is how Buhari uses kids to rig elections in north and claims he is popular

Next post please

Imagine the senselessness.

If Buhari thinks he has integrity and has the popularity to win in 2019, let him change the INEC chairman and appoint another one form the South.

We still have over 6 months before election.

Cho Cho Cho Cho Cho

They just can't help it...

[img]https://media1./images/c70908fdf90d5a575710513e979a4a73/tenor.gif[/img]

amaniro:
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Well we all know what happens there, I mean during election even cows vote


Modify: (I am exaggerating)

please check the website and see it for yourself. underage voters is much in the north.

Y

AllTheWayUp:
Buhari is a bastard

Shukuakukobambi, here is one if the things we were talking about.

We will lock them up at home next time abeg

What kind of nonsense is this thread for?

Children were around to sell food and zobo and to cheer and how is that a crime?

Children are known to adore celebrities and to them the candidates were celebs and since the place was not cordoned off or fenced how then would they be able to stop children from hanging around?

Plus is it an offence for children to count along with the electoral officer as he counted the votes?

This thread is the most stupid thread I have ever read.

Children did not vote, yet they still want to crucify the children for observing from a distance.

Is that not madness?

So sad we are still like this

seems this premium times no see news covered again. so na kids that hawk and stay around the polling unit be news again



what precisely is the article trying to achieve? oh I guess trying to let's know underage don't vote in north election as it was earlier covered?


at 21 century this is what Nigeria newspaper are covering. shame dey catch me as a Nigerian I swear

Johnnyessence:
please check the website and see it for yourself. underage voters is much in the north.

Shut up! Copy the pictures from the website and post here so we can all see.

I saw no such pictures from the website you this chronic and addicted liar

Butterflyle0:
What kind of nonsense is this thread for?

Children were around to sell food and zobo and to cheer and how is that a crime?

Children are known to adore celebrities and to them the candidates were celebs and since the place was not cordoned off or fenced how then would they be able to stop children from hanging around?

Plus is it an offence for children to count along with the electoral officer as he counted the votes?

This thread is the most stupid thread I have ever read.

They did not vote, yet they still want to crucify the children for observing from a distance.

Is that not madness?

Some Nigerians can defend sotee satan self go dey fear some naija people