Low voter turnout mars Anambra LG poll

The Anambra State Local Government election was characterised by low voter turnout in parts of Awka North and Awka South Local Government Areas, despite voting materials arriving early in the wards.

The All Progressives Grand Alliance was the only party that fielded candidates in the 20 LGs out of the 21 LGs across the state, with opposition parties failing to present candidates.

However, only the Young Progressives Party fielded candidates in Anambra East LG.

Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise observed the presence of officials of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission, while voters and security personnel were seen at some polling centres as of 9am.

Although there was no restriction of movement over the election, security operatives were deployed to strategic locations, with no security challenges reported at many polling units.

In Amawbia community, Awka South Local Government Area, which has three wards, voters in Wards 1, 2 and 3 were directed to a central voting centre at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church, Ward 1, to cast their ballots.

Similarly at Okpuno ward-19 and Agu Awka ward-01, voters gathered at the Nodu Town hall to cast their votes.

Mrs Wilfred Aghanya, a voter, said ANSIEC officials arrived on time.

However, voter turnout remained low in most of the wards monitored.

The absence of movement restrictions appeared to have contributed to the low turnout, as residents were seen going about their normal businesses and commercial activities, while vehicular movement continued in different parts of the state capital.

Speaking with journalists, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra, CP Nnanna Ama, said he led the election security monitoring patrol team across the state to ensure that residents exercise their civic responsibilities without fear or intimidation.

He said as part of the monitoring exercise, he visited the ANSIEC Office in Awka and proceeded on patrol along the Onitsha Expressway, Otuocha axis, Anambra East Local Government Area, Onitsha, and other strategic locations across the State.

“The patrol was aimed at assessing the security situation, monitoring the deployment and conduct of personnel, and ensuring a safe, peaceful and orderly conduct of the elections across the State,” he added.

Also speaking with journalists, the NSCDC Commandant in Anambra, Olatunde Maku, who also monitored the election, said he had been moving around the state to monitor the exercise and that the election had so far remained peaceful.

“I have been going around and so far, the exercise has been peaceful, with voters conducting themselves orderly,” he added.

In Onitsha South Local Government Area, voting commenced at polling units within Modebe Primary School and Central School, both in Odoakpu, with voters turned out low numbers to exercise their civic rights.

Security personnel were also strategically positioned at the polling locations to maintain order and ensure the smooth conduct of the exercise.

Some voters who spoke to our correspondent after casting their ballots described the election as peaceful and orderly.

They commended the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission for arriving early at the polling centres, noting that voting had commenced as early as 9am.

The voters expressed optimism that the exercise would remain peaceful through the voting and counting processes.

Our correspondent observed that the election has ended and collation and announcement of result set to begin at the ANSIEC office in Awka.

Recall that the ANSIEC Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity, Tony Nnalue, had on Wednesday announced that the election would hold in all the 21 Local Government Areas and 326 wards across the state.

Nnalue said two political parties, the All Progressives Grand Alliance and the Young Progressives Party, were participating in the election.

He said the commission had screened 346 councillorship candidates and 22 chairmanship candidates for the election.

According to him, APGA candidates are contesting unopposed in 20 LGAs, except Anambra East, where a YPP candidate is also contesting.

He explained that unopposed candidates would not be declared winners automatically but would be subjected to a “Yes or No” ballot to allow the electorate determine whether they accepted the candidates.