MARCH 18 POLL: OBI, OTHERS BEMOAN VOTER APATHY, VOTE BUYING IN ANAMBRA

REPORTERS: KEVIN EKEDIEGWU, UCHE NDEKE & NKIRU EGWUI

The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Mr. Peter Obi, has blamed the low turnout of people in the March 18 elections on the outcome of the February 25 Presidential Election.

Mr. Peter Obi made the observation shortly after casting his vote at Amatutu Agulu Ward 2, polling unit 019 in Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Radio Nigeria observed that some stakeholders decried a high level of vote buying during the exercise, which they described as peaceful.

In all the areas visited, INEC Officials arrived on time with electoral materials while voting commenced at 8:30am.

The Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi said, people felt that since their votes did not count during the last election, there was no need to come out and vote in this election.

He disassociated himself from engaging in vote buying, insisting that those who engaged in it were the people who were not going to work for the masses.

A House of Assembly candidate for Anaocha Constituency 1 under Labour Party, Miss Nkechi Ogbuefi, who decried low turnout of votes commended INEC for improving in the areas of logistics and arrival of materials.

A member representing Njikoka Constituency 1in the State House of Assembly, Dr. Timothy Ifedioranma, who was not satisfied with the low turnout of voters, however, applauded the electoral umpire for improving on what was obtained during the last election.

A Stakeholder in Nise in Awka South Local Government Area, Prince Azubuike Ilo, frowned at the rate of vote buying witnessed during the election and blamed the voter apathy on the outcome of the last election.

Some voters, Princess Bibian Nwankwo from Nawfia, Mr. Obinna Onuzulike from Enugwu-ukwu and Prince Clinton Obidima, said what mattered to the electorate was the capacity and competence of the candidate and not necessarily the party affiliations.

A public Commentator, Mr. Emeka Ozumba, who described the exercise as peaceful regretted that the electorate placed much emphasis on what they would gain during the poll rather than good governance.

Radio Nigeria observed a high level of inducement in most of the polling units visited as political party agents were seen distributing wrappers, bags of rice, noddles and cash with point of sale (POS) machines.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU