Anambra LG poll: Mixed reaction as voting ends
By Vincent Ujumadu
It was mixed reactions to the September 28 local government election in Anambra State conducted by the state Independent Electoral Commission, ANSIEC. While members of the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, described the election as successful, those in the opposition said it was a cham.
Election materials did not arrive at the polling units early, and when they eventually arrived, they were incomplete.
At Nsugbe in Anambra East local government area where there are six polling units in one center, materials for only one unit were brought by officials of ANSIEC.
With the development, voters who were waiting patiently to cast their votes refused to vote until materials for all the units were brought.
In Orumba South local government area, the chairmanship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Sir Norbert Okoli said his people were totally disenfranchised as there was no voting.
He said: “ANSIEC did not inform us that there would not be an election at my town, Owerre Ezukala because of alleged insecurity. It was only after the voters had assembled at their voting centres that a message came that they should go to Umunze, the local government headquarters, to vote.
“If ANSIEC and security operatives were concerned about insecurity in Owerre Ezukala, was it at Umunze where some soldiers were killed recently that should be more secure?.
“For that reason, our people did not vote, even when they were adequately sensitized to participate in the election. From what happened, it was obvious that the election was predetermined, which is unfortunate.”
However, the exercise was smooth in some areas. At Atani in Ogbaru local government area where the Speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon.Somtochukwu Udeze voted, he commended the state government for “providing adequate security and enabling environment across the state, especially in Ogbaru local government area during the local government election”.
Speaking shortly after voting in polling unit- 007 in the council secretariat, Udeze expressed satisfaction with the large turnout of voters in Ogbaru local government area, noting that the electorate was happy that democracy and more development projects will be brought to them through the local council system.
He urged his people to continue to support Governor Chukwuma Soludo in appreciation for the development efforts the government is making in the area.
The state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, voted at his Ofuiyi Square, polling unit 002, Umueze-Isuofia, Aguata Local Government Area. recalled that Anambra State held local government election last 11 years ago.
He anticipated victory for his party, APGA, describing the poll as a foretaste of his victory in the Anambra 2025 governorship election expected to hold in November next year.
He also adjudged the election as seamless and an example of what an election should be.
Soludo said: “From all the calls and feelers that I have got from all over the state, everything is going well. The process has been confirmed to be going very well, in fact superlatively well. We are taking this very very seriously.
“We put in resources, a lot of mobilisation, campaigns in all the 326 wards, because for us this is the grassroots election, the one that will help us get a feel as to how we are doing, and this is like an opinion poll as to what will happen next year, and we are not taking it very lightly.
“We have said it everywhere and to all Anambra people that this will be one good example that is conducted very transparently and creditably.”
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