Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, on Saturday, cast his vote in the Local Government polls and commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Soludo arrived at his Polling Unit, 002 located at Ofuiyi Square, Umueze at Isuofia Ward 13, in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra and cast his vote at exactly 11:45a.m.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after voting, Soludo said that reports showed the polls were going on smoothly and peacefully at the polling units across the state.
He commended the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) for early commencement of the voting process in the state.
“This voting exercise is a promise kept. This will be a huge example of Local Government elections being conducted transparently and creditably.
“From the reports I got before coming to cast my vote, people are voting peacefully, as you can see, the election is going on smoothly here and in other parts of the state.
“From fillers we are getting, there is massive enthusiasm, everybody endorsing the great work we have done, the only party that fielded candidates for all the 21 chairmanship and 326 councilorship positions
“For us, what is going on in the state is almost like a mock referendum and we are optimistic that the will of the people will prevail,” he said.
The governor urged other electorate to come out en masse and participate in the ongoing polls.
Soludo’s optimistic comments came even as there were reports of general low voter turnout across the state, and absence of electoral materials and staff at some polling units (PU).
News correspondents who monitored the polls report that there was heavy security presence at the polling units and wards visited.
As such, while people went about their normal businesses unmolested, very few people were seen at the polling units visited at PU 002 located at Ofuiyi Square, Umueze at Isuofia Ward 13 and PU 007, Central school, Ozala in Isuofia ward 13 in Aguata LGA.
Other PUs visited were PU 002 Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall, Umuona and PUs 004, 005, 006 and 007, all in Umuona in Aguata Local Government Area.
At Ofuiyi poling unit, 002, Isuofia ward, Aguata LGA, electoral officials arrived at 8:15 am and voting commenced at 8:30a.m while at PU 002 Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall, Umuona voting materials had not arrived as at 9.am.
A voter, Mrs. Joy Okenyi at Ward 01, PU 002, said the low turnout was as a result of lack of interest.
“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,” she said.
Mr. John Ikpeze, another voter at Ofuiyi poling unit, 002, Isuofia ward, Aguata LGA, said he was optimistic that people would come out and vote.
“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,” he said.
Meanwhile, prospective voters in Awka South were stranded as officials of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) were absent at some polling centres.
According to a report by the News Agency of Nigeria, as at about 11am, the polling units around Government House area also known as Agu Awka in Awka South Local Government Area were yet to receive the electoral materials and officials of ANSIEC who were to conduct the election.
There was also absence of electoral officials at the Nwafor Orizu demonstration school at the Commissioners’ Quarters, Awka.
There are currently vehicular movements on roads in some parts of Awka South Local Government Area while some shops were open for businesses notwithstanding police restriction on movement and businesses activities during the polls. (NAN)
