As voting gradually ends in some parts of Anambra, some electorate, including the state Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Dr Edozie Aroh, have criticised lapses witnessed in the exercise.
Aroh blamed the lapses on the poor dispatch of materials and personnel by INEC, adding that any result from the area would not be acceptable to them.
In Abatete, in Idemili Local Government Area, News Agency of Nigeria reports that neither materials nor INEC officials were seen in the area.
Reacting to the situation, Mr Onataluchi Ogwuikpor, a voter who said he had been at the community hall since morning, expressed worry over the situation.
“We are confused; nothing is happening; we have been at Eke-Abatete since 7 a.m.There have been movement of vehicles in and out of this place; all I wanted to do was to cast my vote and go home but I cannot do that.”
At Ifite-Abatete voting unit, only three people voted before they revolted on the grounds that there were no result sheets.
Corroborating the Abatete situation, the commissioner expressed sadness that voting had not commenced as at 3.30 p.m.
“It is a poor showing by INEC; in spite of decentralising the distribution of materials to ensure easy access, we still did not get materials; people are protesting; they insist they won’t vote without the result sheets in place.
“We suspect foul play because materials should have been in place by 9 a.m.; they said that the corps members were on strike, among other reasons.
“If results are released for Abatete, it will not be acceptable to us here,” the commissioner said.
NAN reports that in Nimo Wards 1 & 3 and Enugu-Ukwu Ward 2 voting had ended and unit results released.
Similarly, at Agu-Ukwu Nri, where Mrs Ego Okafor, the Transition Chairman of Anocha Local government Council, voted, results were already being collated under a peaceful atmosphere.
Okafor said that the process commenced on schedule although there was a low turnout of voters.
In Otolo, Nnewi, voting had also ended while most of the results from the polling centres in Awka South were being compiled at the council’s headquarters.
However, in Obosi, Idemili North local Government Area, there was no INEC presence till 4 p.m.
Consequently, the community refused to participate in the process, stressing that accreditation was supposed to have started at 8 a.m. and ended at 12.30 p.m., while voting was billed to have commenced at 12.30 p.m. and ended 4 p.m.
Mr Victor Egbunam, a resident in Obosi, expressed disappointment in INEC, which had earlier assured the people of a free and credible election.
Egbunam said that INEC had no reason not to provide facilities for election in Idemili, considering the smooth road network in the area.
“I consider this action of INEC as sabotage and a show of incompetence.”
Meanwhile, the INEC Public Relations Officer in Anambra, Mr Frank Egbo, told NAN that election would hold in Obosi on Nov. 17, but did not indicate whether other areas where there complaints would also be covered.
