Saturday’s Anambra governorship election witnessed what most observers described as an impressive turnout of voters across the state.
The threatened boycott of the poll by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, which had created tensions did not materialise. Obviously this was due to the heavy presence of combined armed security personnel from the army, police and DSS across the length and breadth of the state.
According to NAN Correspondents who monitored the exercise on Saturday, November 18, 2017 in the three senatorial zones of the state, report voters were seen in most of the polling units visited as early as 7.30 a.m. waiting to be attended to by the electoral officials.
At Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, the country home of Gov. Willie Obiano, the governor said he was happy with the massive turnout of voters.
Obiano noted that effective participation by the people was the only way they could support the advancement of democracy.
The APC governorship candidate, Dr Tony Nwoye, also told jounralists that the turnout was high and impressive.
In Oyi, Orumba North and South, Awka South local government areas as well as Onitsha, NAN reported that the turnout was high in the polling units visited.
However, the turnout in parts of Orumba north and south was poor because of late arrival of materials and officials of INEC.
At Aroma Junction, Agu Oka Polling Unit 004 in Awka South Local Government Area, Mr David Anyamele, a Local Election Observer, described the exercise as peaceful and smooth.
Anyamele, a member of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, told NAN that he was impressed by the turnout of voters in most of the polling units he visited.
But at Fagge Area of Onitsha, the turnout was not as impressive.
Igwe Nneamaka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, told NAN that the unimpressive turnout in Onitsha was because majority of people working and doing business in Onitsha were not residents.
“Most of them live in Nkpor, Obosi, and Idemili areas, but only come to Onitsha to work and do business.
“The Obi in Council had earlier met and directed the town criers to go round the various communities and announce to the people to participate in the election,’’ Achebe said.
He described the conduct of the election as smooth, peaceful and fair.
ANR with agency reports.
