Low turnout of voters in Ebonyi by-election
By Douglas Okoro
Saturday’s by-election for Ebonyi South witnessed low turnout of voters as only a few turned out to cast their votes, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
NAN correspondent who went round polling units, reports of voters’ apathy in all areas visited.
At the Onuafor Ukwuru polling unit in Uburu community of Ohaozara Local Government Area of the state only a few voters were seen casting their votes.
Mr David Aja, an 80-year-old voter who spoke with NAN expressed joy with the peaceful conduct of the election stressing that he decided to come out to vote in order to elect a credible representative to the senate.
“I have been participating in the previous election and the last election of 2023 produced credible representatives and we are enjoying dividends of democracy.
“The exercise is going on peacefully and there is no incident of violence; I commend the security agencies for providing adequate security, ” Aja said.
The octogenarian appealed to candidates contesting in the election to play by the rules and avoid acts that could affect the outcome of the election.
Another voter, 75-year-old Mrs Regina Ekpa said that the election had been peaceful and expressed hope that the votes would count.
“I came out to vote to exercise my voting right and also to elect a credible representative; I hope that the authorities will allow our votes to count,” she said.
Meanwhile, Miss Adeyeye Adoluwa, the Supervisory Presiding Officer (SPO) said that voting started at 8.30 a.m., but regretted that the exercise was marred by apathy.
“The polling booth has 1266 registered voters but as at the moment, only about 100 persons have voted.
“We are expecting that more voters will come out to vote before the end of the ballot by 2 pm,” Adoluwa said.
At the Obiozara New Market polling station Uburu with a total number of over 900 voters, a total of 66 voters were accredited to vote.
Mr Oluwafemi Fadaro, the presiding officer regretted that voters were not coming out to cast their votes stressing that only 62 out of 992 registered voters had cast their votes.
“We arrived with the election material around 9 am and accreditation of voters commenced immediately.
“The turnout of voters is too low and only about 62 voters have so far voted; we waiting as you can see, but no voter is coming up to vote, I think that the people are not interested in voting in the by-election,” he said.
Mr Silas Onu, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said that the election was not free and transparent.
Onu, who hailed from Ohaozara alleged that the exercise was devoid of credibility.
At Ishiagu in Ivo LGA, there were reports of voter apathy as many eligible voters shunned the exercise. (NAN)(www.nannews)
ODO/ABI
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