Challenges Arise As Voter Disinterest And Slow Beginnings Impact Local Government Elections In Kwara, Imo, Enugu

Challenges Arise As Voter Disinterest And Slow Beginnings Impact Local Government Elections In Kwara, Imo, Enugu

Voter apathy and a slow start characterised the local government council elections conducted in Kwara, Imo and Enugu states on Saturday.

In Kwara and Enugu states, the elections, monitored in various parts of the states by Sunday PUNCH correspondents, were peaceful but started late due to the late arrival of electoral officials and materials at the polling stations.

In Imo State, the election began on a shaky note with the late distribution of electoral materials, but voter turnout was impressive at the polling units visited by the News Agency of Nigeria.

Our correspondent observed that in Enugu, electoral materials arrived very late in most polling units while the turnout was so low that in a majority of the polling units, only a handful of voters were seen.

However, in Kwara State, our correspondent gathered that elections did not start until 9.30 am in most polling units in Ilorin, the state capital, and other parts of the state.

Our correspondent learnt that though commercial vehicles deserted the roads following the vehicular movement restrictions in the state, some traders displayed their wares at the markets as they didn’t bother participating in the election.

It was gathered that some traders in the Ipata and Ganmo markets in the state capital carried out their business activities during the election.

A market woman, Mrs. Iyabo Alata, told journalists that she preferred to mind her business rather than spend time casting her vote.

“This is the only option to put food on my table and not to vote. I prefer to monitor my business than to go and spend my time voting,” she said.

Another trader, Mrs Aishat Usman, said her business was a thing of pride to her and she couldn’t stop it because of the election.

“We have been voting since we were born, but we have yet to see any impact of those we voted for in the past.

However, Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who cast his vote at the Idigba polling unit 004 of Adewole ward in Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state, commended the turnout of the electorate for the election in his unit.

“From what we can see here, the turnout is very okay. Democracy has come to stay,” he told journalists.

AbdulRazaq commended the security agencies for their conduct and urged them to maintain the spirit.

While assessing the situation, the All Progressives Congress candidate for the Ilorin South Local Government Area of the state, Majeed Podo, judged the process as peaceful and orderly.

A former Special Assistant of the governor who is the Peoples Democratic Party agent in the Ilorin West Local Government Area, Musbau Esinrogunjo, said electoral officers were not posted to many polling units.

Esinrogunjo also claimed that there were deliberate efforts by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission not to provide election materials, such as result sheets, to many polling units.

Esinrogunjo said, “In Ogidi, Oloje, Pakata and Warah wards of the LGA, sufficient ballot papers and result sheets were not given to the polling units. In a polling unit of 740 voters, only 350 ballot papers were provided while in another polling unit where we have 500 voters, 200 ballot papers were provided.”

At Owerri, the state capital, and the adjoining Egbu, Irete and other communities, the News Agency of Nigeria gathered that many voters turned out for the exercise as early as 7.30 a.m.

Also, at the Owerri Municipal Local Government Headquarters, the main entrance gate was locked as of 8:54 a.m., while many voters and ad hoc election workers were seen outside waiting.

At the Bishop Lesbery Secondary School, Irete, Mount Carmel Primary School, Emekuku and Oha Egbu Town Hall, Egbu polling units, several voters were also seen waiting for the arrival of materials.

There was also visible security at all the polling units visited.

A prospective voter, Mr Chizomam Etonyeanku, expressed disappointment that the process had yet to commence as of 9 a.m.

Etonyeanku said, “The process ought to commence early to avoid dragging into the late hours, which gives room for manipulation and violence.”

Another voter at the Akwakuma Girls’ Secondary School in Owerri North, Mrs Jane Iwuagwu, also said people became interested in the exercise because of the recent Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the Local Governments’ financial autonomy.

“We are hopeful that whoever emerges as the chairman must be mindful that he owes a duty to develop the rural communities because they shall be accountable for the funds collected,” she said.

Ireporteronline reports that normal business activities were seen taking place at some spots on the Wethedral, Egbu, Amakohia, Akwakuma, Orji and MCC Roads, while commuter buses went about their normal business.

Also, at the Ekeukwu Market by Douglas Road, Owerri, many traders opened for business.

At the headquarters of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Owerri, there were heavily armed military personnel and other paramilitary agents.

Speaking on the security arrangement for the polls, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Henry Okoye, said the command deployed adequate personnel across the state.

Okoye assured the residents and electorate of their safety before, during and after the elections.

He said that the Commissioner of Police, Mr Aboki Danjuma, had moved to the field to personally monitor the security situation.

Meanwhile, the state PDP Chairman, Austine Nwachukwu, while speaking with journalists in Owerri, in reaction to the conduct of the local government election said, “We have today witnessed the murder of democracy. The purported local government elections in Imo State today, September 21, 2024, is nothing but a show of shame, an organised fraud, and an unprecedented rape of democracy.”

He alleged that the Imo council elections took place in hotels and offices of the sole administrators of the 27 local government areas.

In Enugu State, Ireporteronline observed that generally, the electoral materials arrived very late in most polling units. Turnout, was, however, very low, while in a majority of polling units

However, the state Governor, Peter Mbah, commended the peaceful conduct of the local government elections held across the state.

After casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Mbaguzo, Ashishi Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area, Mbah described the exercise as “democracy in action.”

He praised the orderly and calm atmosphere, noting it as the most peaceful local government election in the state.