By Special CorrespondentPrior to the last Saturday’s (yesterday’s) governirship election, there were apprehension, fears of uncertainty as to what will happen on the day of the poll.
The tension in Anambra State was further heightened by an order issued by the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) few days to the election proper that people of the Southeast Zone should sit at home begining from November 5-10.
The intent of the Separatist group despite denial was to use the sit-at-home to mar the Anambra gubernatorial election.
However, reprieve came to Anambrarians and lovers of democracy when on the eve of the election, the pro-Biafra agitators dramatically cancelled their sit-at-home order, through separate statements by Simon Ekpa and IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful.
Expectedly, there was low turnout of eligible electorate as many of them had lost interest in excercising their franchise.
Unfortunately also, few of the voters who came out to cast their votes had challenges largely due to mal-functioning of Bio-Modal Voter Accreditation System machine (BVAS) and late arrival of electoral materials.
This reporter also observed that security personnel and staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delayed in showing up at some of the polling centres visited.
Valentine Ozigbo (PDP candidate)
For instance, at about 9.25 am at Upper standard Central School, Ward 1 Oka Agbiligba, Nanka in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, few electorate were still waiting for arrival of electoral materials.
Reports from other areas in the state had it that accreditation of voters started late, laying credence to speculations that the election process might have been skwed to favour a particular candidate.
Little wonder, the Civil Liberties Organization (CLO) swiftly appealed to the electoral body to extend voting period to 5 PM, to enable all eligible voters to cast their ballots to the candidates of their choice.
Chairman of CLO in Anambra State Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme lamented “late arrival of INEC officials and Materials, malfunction of card readers, inadequate or lack of security personnel in the polling units and vote buying by some major political parties are greatest impediment towards actualising much needed but elusive free, fair, credible and generally acceptable Anambra Nov 6th governorship election”
To Comrade Ezekwueme, “Electoral Commission should prove the assertion that those who cast their votes do nothing, but those who count the votes do everything, is wrong, by ensuring transparent conduct of the election, and it’s outcome reflect the majority of the wishes and aspirations of Anambra electorate CLO posited”.
Among those pained by challenges experienced by voters during the election was the gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Valintine Ozigbo who lamented the late arrival of electoral materials in some polling centres.
Ozigbo who said he would win the poll under free, fair and credible poll, urged the electoral body to redress the issue of late accreditation by extending the time for close of polls.
Also speaking to our reporter, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, member representing Orumba North/South Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, however, commended INEC for the courage to conduct the election despite threats separatist agitators. He expressed optimism that the election would be peaceful.
Hon. Okwudili Ezenwankwo
The State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Nwachukwu Orji, however bowed to his critics when he announced the extension of voting to the next day being Sunday (today), November 7, in areas where election could not hold due to hitches.
Orji had also extended the voting period by an hour, from 2.30pm to 4:00pm on Saturday.
As it is, some political party agents have gone to social media to declare results of some of the election proper invariably putting more pressure on the electoral umpire to act proactively and transparently too.
Trust politicians, almost all the political parties are claiming victory in the poll, alleging irregularities in the election even when collation of results of the poll are still going on as at the time of filling this report on Sunday.
Inside source revealed that the battle is between the three frontliners- APGA, PDP and APC.
It could be recalled that the leadership of APGA in the state through the Commissioner for Information, C. Don Adinuba, had before the poll alleged that APC had written results of the election in 10 local government areas of the state.
Already, the election of Anambra State may take a new dimension as people outside the state are threatening fire and brimestone with the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodima, leading the pack.
Governor Uzodima who won his electoral battle at the Supreme Court was reported to have threatened to challenge the outcome of Anambra poll at the apex court if the election is rigged.
GMTNews
