Ebonyi Bye-election Witness Voter Apathy
The Ebonyi South Senatorial election held in the 5 local government areas of the zone witnessed low turnout as few voters were seen at most of the polling booths.
As at 1:25pm when our reporter visited the Umuobasi Hall 1, Obiozara ward 1, in Ohaozara LGA, out of 422 registered voters, only 60 voters had voted in the polling unit.
Speaking with journalists the presiding officer, Mr. Okorie Ekwe said that materials and the ad-hoc staff of INEC arrived at the polling unit at exactly 7:30am and commenced accreditation at about 8am adding that the election has been free, fair and credible.
At the Ishieke Village Square, Obiozara and the main market polling unit, the story was the same as few voters were seen coming to exercise their franchise.
In Amaenu Town Hall Polling unit in Ugwulagwu, the Chairman, Coalition of United Political Parties, Mr. Chinedum Enekwachi alleged vote buying, intimidation of voters, ballot box snatching and other irregularities at the polling unit.
Mr. Enekwachi said that following the heavy presence of heavily armed military personnel, the people especially elder men and women were reluctant to come out to vote to avoid intimidation and harassment.
At the polling unit 005, Ohaizu Ward A and Ukpa/Amachara Primary School in, Ohaizu 001 in Afikpo Local Government Area of the State, there was also low turn of voters.
When our reporter visited Akpoha, Unwana, Ozzizza and Ebii all in Afikpo local government, there were reasonable presence of voters at the polling booths visited.
A resident of the area, Mr. Sunny Nkama who spoke to journalists noted that materials arrived early adding that the election also violent free.
Meanwhile, Soldiers restricted several Journalists on election duty from moving round to Monitor the Ebonyi bye-lection in Ebonyi South Senatorial zone.
Twice a military convoy stopped journalists and refused them passage for more than 40 minutes each.
As a result, the Journalist who left early from Abakaliki, Ebonyi state capital could not cover the Minister of Works, David Umahi while casting his vote at his Umunaga polling unit in Ohaozara local government area.
The two incidents happened along the Uburu-Abaomege highway in the Uburu, Ohaozara LGA.
