Enugu LG polls: APGA councillorship candidate alleges double voting

Mr Chukwuemeka Chinedu, an All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Councillorship Candidate in Wednesday’s Local Government Elections in Enugu State has alleged double voting by some voters.
Chinedu made the allegation in an interview with newsmen, saying that information available to him indicated that some supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were allowed to vote twice in the election.
He further alleged that while some of the voters were allowed to vote twice using the same voter’s card, others were given two ballot papers to vote.
“It was in the cause of fighting the evil that some of my party members were injured at the polling booths located at Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu.
“Though the election has been peaceful and they said we were video recording their activities, the 1999 Constitution allows video recording for record purposes, if there are cases of electoral fraud.
“Hopefully, my party will win the councillorship for ward 004 but if they steal my mandate, I will challenge it in court,” Chinedu said.
Responding to the allegation, the PDP agent at the polling unit, who pleaded anonymity, debunked the allegation of double voting.
He said that the APGA candidate was already afraid he was losing the election.
According to him, APGA is like a drowning man, trying to hold on to anything to survive.
“The exercise so far is free, fair and smooth.
“Anybody alleging fraud is insane and afraid of the outcome of the polls,” the PDP agent said.
Also, an official of the Enugu State Independent National Electoral Commission said that the APGA candidate’s claim was unfounded.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the official said: “We are not allowed to speak to the media but the allegation of double voting is not true.
“I gave voters two ballot papers for both Chairman and Councilorship elections.”
She further said that it was obvious that some people came to the polling booth “to make trouble”.
Although the exercise was peaceful, it was married by low voter turnout at the different polling units visited.