The Anambra Local Government Area Polls, taking place across the 21 council areas of the state, are currently experiencing a notable low voter turnout, along with issues related to a lack of electoral materials and staff at several polling units (PU).
According to reports from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents who are monitoring the elections, there is a significant security presence at the polling units and wards that have been visited so far. However, this heavy security did not seem to translate into increased voter participation.
NAN further reports that many people were seen engaging in their usual activities, with very few individuals present at the polling units monitored, including PU 002 located at Ofuiyi Square, Umueze, in Isuofia Ward 13 and PU 007 at the Central School, Ozala, also in Isuofia Ward 13 in Aguata Local Government Area.
Other polling units that were visited include PU 002 Ward 01 at Ekwulu Village Hall, Umuona, as well as PUs 004, 005, 006, and 007, all located in Umuona within Aguata Local Government Area.
At the Ofuiyi polling unit 002 in Isuofia Ward, Aguata LGA, electoral officials arrived on-site at 8:15 AM, with voting officially commencing at 8:30 AM. However, at PU 002 Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall, Umuona, voting materials had not yet arrived by 9:00 AM, causing frustration among the electorate.
An electorate, Mrs. Joy Okenyi, who was present at Ward 01, PU 002, expressed that the low turnout could be attributed to a general lack of interest in the elections. She stated, “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.”
In contrast, Mr. John Ikpeze, an electorate at the Ofuiyi polling unit 002, Isuofia Ward, Aguata LGA, expressed optimism that more people would eventually come out to vote. He noted, “You know, the LG poll is happening after many years, so people are still trying to be sure the election is really taking place. I believe that now that the election has commenced in many polling units, people will come out and vote.”
Meanwhile, in Awka South, prospective voters found themselves stranded as officials from the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) were absent at several polling centers. Observations made by NAN indicated that around 11 AM, polling units near the Government House area, also referred to as Agu Awka in Awka South Local Government Area, had neither electoral materials nor ANSIEC officials present.
The lack of electoral officials was also noted at the Nwafor Orizu demonstration school at the Commissioners’ Quarters in Awka. Despite the situation, there were visible vehicular movements on the roads in certain areas of Awka South, with some shops remaining open for business, even in light of police restrictions on movement and business activities during the polls.