The Chairman of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State, Dr. Johnpaul Anih, has offered a mixed assessment of the ongoing Local Government Council elections across the state, praising the peaceful atmosphere in his immediate locality while raising serious alarms over electoral malpractices and structural exclusion in several other local government areas.
​Speaking to journalists on Saturday outside his polling unit at Community Secondary School, Obunofia Ndiuno in Ezeagu Local Government Area, Dr. Anih expressed satisfaction with the orderliness and enthusiasm exhibited by voters in his domain. He commended local security personnel and community members for maintaining calm and ensuring a seamless voting process.
​”As far as Ezeagu Local Government Area is concerned, the process thus far has been remarkably peaceful and organized,” Dr. Anih stated. “Voters turned out early, and the atmosphere reflects the democratic spirit of our people. I commend our members and local stakeholders for upholding order and protecting their votes peacefully.”
​However, the NDC state chief shifted to a stern tone as he addressed reports coming in from other parts of the state. He alleged widespread irregularities, delayed arrival of election materials, and deliberate denial of access to NDC agents and officials in specific council areas, particularly parts of Nkanu East, Enugu North, and Oji River Local Government Areas.
​According to Dr. Anih, NDC agents in several remote polling units were barred from inspecting voting materials or monitoring the accreditation process by compromised electoral officers working in tandem with rival political thugs.
​”We cannot turn a blind eye to the disturbing reports reaching our central situation room,” Anih revealed. “In several council areas, our accredited party officials and agents were flatly denied access to polling units and collation centers. We have documented cases where election materials arrived without result sheets, alongside instances of voter intimidation designed to disenfranchise our strongholds.”
​Corroborating the state chairman’s observations, the NDC State Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Arum, issued an official statement from the party’s secretariat in Enugu later in the afternoon at 2:15 PM. Chief Arum called on the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) to immediately intervene and restore integrity to the affected council areas.
​”We are calling on ENSIEC leadership and the State Commissioner of Police to urgently intervene in these troubled spots,” Chief Arum urged. “The credibility of this entire election rests on transparency. Denying opposition agents access to monitoring facilities casts a dark shadow over the legitimacy of the outcome.”
​Despite these challenges, Dr. Anih urged NDC members, supporters, and voters across all 17 local government areas to remain calm, vigilant, and peaceful while carefully documenting all irregularities. He reaffirmed that the party’s legal team is actively compiling evidence to challenge any compromised results through constitutional channels.
