The Anambra governorship polls began slowly on Saturday, with low voter turnout and minor logistical issues, reflecting past election trends in the state. In several polling stations, accreditation did not commence at the stipulated time of 8:30 am. Like the lull experienced in the campaigns preceding the elections, it was business as usual for several
The Anambra governorship polls began slowly on Saturday, with low voter turnout and minor logistical issues, reflecting past election trends in the state. In several polling stations, accreditation did not commence at the stipulated time of 8:30 am.
Like the lull experienced in the campaigns preceding the elections, it was business as usual for several citizens who went about their daily chores unbothered about making their votes count in electing their governor for the next four years. Some markets opened for buying and selling, while some shops welcomed their customers.
Delay in Accreditation
At 8:30 am, the NDR team assessed the situation and observed that some INEC officials were arriving at their polling stations in Awka South Local Government Area. The officials attributed the delay to logistical issues, explaining that they were instructed not to leave the registration centres where they collected materials unless security personnel accompanied them.
At Ogbugbanwa ward 6, which hosts four polling units —012, 011, 027, and 028 —none commenced accreditation at 8:30 am. Upon the arrival of the INEC officials, their first task was to clean their environment and to paste the voters’ register on nearby walls around the polling units.
The party agents were the arrivals at the polling units. At ward 4 – polling units 011 and 012, accreditation commenced at 8:50 am. At Ward 3 polling unit 007, accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously at 8:33 am.
At Ward 3 Akoyele, polling units 007, 008, 017 and 018, accreditation and voting started at 9:00 am. On the street near the polling units, several youths were seen playing football on Ezeudu Street, while others sat at a nearby beer parlour to enjoy themselves.
Voter Apathy
Ifite Road was a hub of activity, with numerous shops open and two bicycle repair workshops actively serving their clients. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, housing Ward 1, polling unit 015, where there was a total of 1,577 registrants, only 2 have shown up at 9:25 am. It was non-better at polling unit 014, where there were 2962 names on the register, but only three had voted at 9:30 am. At Ifite – St Michael’s Ward 8, polling unit 021, as at 9:50 am, only one person had voted.
At Aroma Junction 1, just 10 out of 2,471 registered voters had cast ballots by 10:00 am. At Aroma Junction 2, one of two BVAS machines failed at polling unit 009 at 10:05 am, with only 2 votes recorded.
At Aroma Junction 1, just 10 out of 2,471 registered voters had cast ballots by 10:00 am. At Aroma Junction 2, one of two BVAS machines failed at polling unit 009 at 10:05 am, with only 2 votes recorded.
A Disabled Person, Asuru Godspower Justice, Could Not Vote
The story of a 35-year-old Mr Asuru Godspower Justice was quite pathetic. He is disabled, having lost his sight a long time ago. He rose early to go to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Square 1, where he had voted since 2015, only to be turned back because his name could not be found on the voter register this time around.
He lamented that he had voted at the same unit in the previous elections and was dazed by his disappointment in not voting. He said he spent one thousand naira to get to the polling unit and requested assistance to get back to the road en route to his house. The NDR crew’s vehicle had to help him get to his house.
Mr Azuru’s Voter Card
