Low voter turnout mars LG poll in Awka

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

Correspondents who monitored the exercise observed the presence of officials of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), while voters and security personnel were seen at some polling centres as of 9 a.m.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that security operatives were deployed to strategic locations, with no security challenges reported at the time of filing this report.

In Amawbia community, Awka South Local Government Area, which has three wards, voters 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 Ward01, voters gathered at the Nodu Town Hall to cast their votes.

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

The government and security agencies did not announce any restriction of movement in the state ahead of the election, unlike during some previous elections when movement was restricted to facilitate the conduct of the exercise.

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

Residents were seen going about their normal businesses and commercial activities, while vehicular movement continued in different parts of the state capital.

Speaking with NAN, Mr Olatunde Maku, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Commandant in Anambra, said 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 said.

NAN reports that monitoring of the election is ongoing in Awka, with accredited voters seen queuing to cast their votes at some of the wards.

Mr Tony Nnalue, ANSIEC Commissioner in charge of Information and Publicity, 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 (APGA) and the Young Progressives Party (YPP), 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 said 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.

“The law says if only one candidate emerges unopposed during the primary, he will contest the election as a single candidate.

“Instead of the ballot showcasing different parties, it will show Yes or No options,” he said.

Nnalue said that where the “Yes” votes outweighed the “No” votes and the candidate secured two-thirds of the votes, the candidate would be declared winner.

“Conversely, if the number of No votes outweighs that of Yes, the candidate loses and the election will be declared inconclusive.

“The floor would be opened again for another fresh primary,” he said.

The commissioner said that the procedure was being implemented for the first time in the state.