APATHY MARS IMO GUBER POLL

REPORTERS: CHINAZO ILECHUKWU & CHIZOBA OPARA

The people of Imo State have gone to the poll today to elect a new Governor that will run the affairs of the state for the next four years.

Contrary to the assurance by INEC that voting would commence by 8.30am election materials did not get to many of the polling units visited in owerri municipal council, Oru east, Oru west and Oguta local government areas until around 9 o’clock in the morning.

At Otulu community primary school booth O02 and 003 in Oru West, accreditation and voting were seamless as bimodal accreditation and verification system BVAS functioned optimally.

At Ekwenja Okwu-Ozu Omuma ward booth 032 the state governor chief Hope Uzodimma who is a candidate in the election cast his vote around 11:40am where he commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for ensuring hitch-free election.

He also expressed satisfaction with the level of security arrangement put in place by law enforcement agents which he said has encouraged turn out.

Meanwhile there was a reported case of missing result sheet at Egbe Town School Oguta.

The presiding officer Miss Sandra Adimone told newsmen that some unidentified men came straight to her table and disappeared with the result sheet

Voting continued after the incident but agents of the PDP and LP accused the INEC official of compromise and called for the discontinuation of voting until a result sheet was made available.

There was also a report of snatching of ballot papers and other sensitive materials at inyishi in Ikeduru local government area where the candidate for the PDP hails from.

Turn out of voters has been generally adjudged unimpressive as some of the  polling units visited appeared scanty when compared to number of registered voters in the units.

Radio Nigeria observed that some communities in Orlu and Orsu Local Government Areas were yet to receive voting materials as at 2 o’clock in the afternoon.

Similarly, voter apathy and vote buying have characterised the Imo State governorship election in Akiri Amuzi and Umuodu communities in Awaka Owerri North Local government area.

Some of the polling units visited by Radio Nigeria such as polling unit’s 005, 011, 003, 004, where INEC officials recorded about 557 registered voters and above where seen with few voters on the queue.

Meanwhile people were seen clustered in different locations discussing their disappointment in the electoral system, with heavy presence of security personnel parading all over the area.

Although the process was relatively peaceful in some of the areas visited, apart from a polling unit in a residential building where Radio Nigeria observed some group of men sorting out some electoral materials without the presence of any INEC officials.

Speaking on the process, a former president General of Amuzi Awaka, Mr. Chukwuemeka Ariri commended the smooth conduct of the election in his area but insisted that people should learn to vote according to conscience despite pressures from politicians.

The INEC officials arrived at some minutes past nine o’clock in the morning before the accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously with functional BVS in the presence of some party agents and election observers.

There were also special consideration by INEC officials for those with disability, pregnant women , breastfeeding mothers and the aged .

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU