The Anambra governorship election has witnessed impressive turnout of voters at most of the polling units, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN Correspondents who monitored the exercise on Saturday in the three senatorial zones of the state, report that voters were seen in most of the polling units visited as early as 7.30 am. waiting to be attended to by the electoral officials.
NAN further reports that security officials were present in all the polling units visited.
At Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, the country home of Gov. Willie Obiano, the governor said he was happy with the massive turnout of voters.
Obiano urged the people yet to come out to do so, noting that effective participation by the people was the only way they could support the advancement of democracy.
The APC governorship candidate, Dr Tony Nwoye, also told newsmen that the turnout was high and impressive.
In Oyi, Orumba North and South, Awka South local government areas as well as Onitsha, NAN correspondents report that the turnout was high in the polling units visited.
However, the turnout in parts of Orumba north and south was poor because of late arrival of materials and officials of INEC.
At Aroma Junction, Agu Oka Polling Unit 004 in Awka South Local Government Area, Mr David Anyamele, a Local Election Observer, described the exercise as peaceful and smooth.
Anyamele, a member of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, told NAN that he was impressed by the turnout of voters in most of the polling units he visited.
But at Fagge Area of Onitsha, the turnout was not very impressive.
Igwe Nneamaka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, told NAN that the unimpressive turnout in Onitsha was because majority of people working and doing business in Onitsha were not residents of the area.
“Most of them live in Nkpor, Obosi, and Idemili areas, but only come to Onitsha to work and do business.
“The Obi in Council had earlier met and directed the town criers to go round the various communities and announce to the people to participate in the election,’’ Achebe said.
He described the conduct of the Nov.18 governorship election as smooth, peaceful and fair.
Meanwhile, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association Election Working Group, told NAN in Onitsha that the poll began on a good note.
The Coordinator of the group, Mr Adewale Ademola, said that the materials arrived and all the materials, including ballot boxes, card readers and results sheets were intact.
Ademola said the card readers were all in good working condition and that the election was smooth.
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra called on the people of the state to come out en masse to exercise their franchise and ensure that their votes count.
Obiano spoke shortly after casting his vote at Eri Primary School in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area at 9:50 am.
He said he was okay with the conduct of the governorship election so far in the state.
“I am okay with the election and I am confident of securing victory in the poll,” he told newsmen.
Obiano commended the people in the council area for their impressive turnout for the poll.
Also, UPP governorship candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka, voted at Obosi Central School at 10:05 a.m.
Chidoka, however, decried the late arrival of officials and materials to some polling units.
The PPA governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, also spoke in similar vein.
He said he had been out to his Umuchu Ward 2 since 8 a.m., but the electoral officers had yet to come, hours after.
NAN.
In Onitsha, electoral officials arrived ahead of the 8 am voting schedule, but there was no voter as at 8:30 am.
The Presiding Officer, Miss Peace Onah told NAN that they slept at the unit.
She said that unit 005 Metropolitan Secondary school ward 4 in Onitsha North, had three voting points.
“INEC officials are ready, but no voter has shown up as at 8:30 a.m,” Onah said.
At Unit 008 and 014 in Ado Girls Secondary School, Inland Town, Onitsha, materials and officials were yet to arrive.
A voter, Mr. Bernet Ezewudo, said he arrived by 8 am., but “you can see that everywhere is still under lock and key”.
Also, in Awka South, the process had not started and the presiding officer, Mr Richard Ogbuji, told NAN at 8:22 am at Real Estate Primary School II that they were setting up table to start.
At unit 005 the presiding officer, Mr. Jude Anukam, attributed the late starting to transportation difficulties and appealed for patient and understanding,
Also, the presiding officer, Miss Nkechi Sucuon, at Permanent Site Market 2 corroborated Anukam that the restriction of movement affected them.
At Oyi Local Government Area, accreditation of voters had started in Umuduru ward 4.
The presiding officer, Anthonia Ugwunebo, said the materials arrived at 8:24 am, while accreditation and voting began at 9 am.
An Octogenarian voter in Anambra, Mrs Ogechi Onwudinjo, has decried the late arrival of materials and officials of INEC in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Onwudinjo, 82, advised INEC to strictly adhere to timing of activities on Election Day in all its future elections,
Onwudinjo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at her Ahocol Phase 1 Polling Unit in Awka South Local Government Area on Saturday, that she was disappointed that voting could not start at 8 a.m. as earlier announced by INEC.
Onwudinjo expressed regrets that she came early to vote at the polling unit because of her fragile health, but was disappointed that as at 8.45 am., the electoral officials were yet to commence accreditation and voting.
“My anticipation was to come and vote and return home because I am not very strong, yet the INEC people are yet to start work.
“My feeling is that INEC should always stick to the time they announce for election because most elderly people no longer have the energy to move out of the homes and do things themselves without being assisted,’’ she said.
NAN reports that Onwudinjo was assisted to the polling unit by another woman, who identified herself as the daughter in-law.
The Octogenerian came to the polling unit with her walking stick and a chair to seat.
Meanwhile, Mrs Philomena Agbodike, Progressive People Alliance (PPA) agent at the unit, said the initial delay might affect the number of people that would turnout to vote.
“Some people who are inpatient may, after noticing this initial delay, return home and this will affect the number that will vote during the election,” she said.
Mr. Richard Ogbuji, INEC Presiding Officer at Real Estate Primary School in Awka South, said officials would attend to everybody before the close of the poll at 2 pm.