Anambra Local Government Polls See Low Voter Turnout Amidst Delays in Electoral Materials

Anambra State’s Local Government Area elections across its 21 council areas are witnessing a low turnout of voters, alongside delays in the arrival of electoral materials and staff at several polling units.

Correspondents from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the situation, reported a notable presence of security personnel across the polling units and wards observed.

Despite the election, daily life continued unaffected in many areas, with minimal voter activity at polling units such as PU 002 at Ofuiyi Square, Umueze in Isuofia Ward 13, and PU 007 at Central School, Ozala, in Aguata Local Government Area. Other polling units, including PU 002 in Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall, and multiple units in Umuona, also saw low voter engagement.

At Ofuiyi polling unit 002, located in Isuofia ward, Aguata LGA, electoral officials arrived at 8:15 am, with voting commencing at 8:30 am. However, in contrast, voting materials had yet to arrive at PU 002 in Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall, Umuona, by 9:00 am.

One voter, Mrs. Joy Okenyi, attributed the low turnout to a lack of interest in the election. “In a normal election, you see lots of political parties and their candidates contesting and campaigning, but in this case, it is just one party thing, so people lost interest,” she explained.

Mr. John Ikpeze, another voter at Ofuiyi polling unit 002, expressed hope that more people would eventually turn up to vote. “You know, the LG poll is happening after many years, so people are still trying to be sure the election is taking place. I believe that now that the election has commenced in many polling units, people will come out and vote,” he stated.

In Awka South, prospective voters faced significant challenges, with many stranded at polling centres due to the absence of officials from the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC). NAN reported that, by 11 am, neither electoral materials nor ANSIEC officials had arrived at polling units near the Government House area, also known as Agu Awka.

A similar situation was observed at the Nwafor Orizu demonstration school at the Commissioners’ Quarters, Awka, where polling officials were yet to appear.

Despite police restrictions on movement and business activities during the elections, vehicular movement persisted in some parts of Awka South Local Government Area, and a number of shops remained open.