The Kogi State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Professor James Apam, has blamed the low turnout of voters in Saturday’s Kogi West senatorial district rerun on poor mobilisation by political parties.

He was speaking against the backdrop of voter’s apathy observed in most polling units visited by our correspondent in Lokoja wards.

While speaking with newsmen shortly before setting out to monitor the election, the REC said the parties should be blamed for voter apathy.

Apam said that instead of the political parties to embark on membership drive aimed at convincing their supporters on the need to come out and vote for them, they turned around to blame the Independent National Electoral Commission for poor turnout of voters.

Some voters told our correspondent, that the low turnout could be blamed on the fear of a repeat of the violence that greeted the November 16 election.

Bala Bariga, a Peoples Democratic Party chieftain, who spoke with our correspondent at Ward C, Polling Unit 001 attributed the low turnout to citizens’ mindsets that their votes don’t count.

He also said more voters stayed away for fear of being caught in any violent crossfire.

However, as of the time of filing this report, there has not been any reported case of violence as the few voters on the queue were seen casting their votes without any hindrance.

Our correspondent also visited Ward D, Yaragi polling unit 002 where voters were seen casting their votes peacefully.