Anambra LGA Poll Xterized By Violence

       Violence, protests and apathy yesterday characterised the Anambra State local government election. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was the sole party in the race.

       A few candidates from the opposition parties used the election to gauge their popularity.

       The violence was triggered off mainly by APGA members who were protesting what they called their exclusion from the election by Governor Peter Obi and the National Chairman of the party, Chief Victor Umeh.

       The All Progressives Congress (APC) said that what transpired during the election was a vindication of its position that it was doomed to fail.

       The party’s Interim Publicity Secretary, Chukwuma Agufugo, said that there was no election at all and that any purported result announced by anyone would never be accepted by the people and genuine representatives.

       He said: “Events that happened throughout Anambra State today (yesterday) justified the position of our party, APC, and Anambrarians complied with our decision by refusing to take part in the so-called scam called election.

       “Reports of events from all the wards and local governments in Anambra State have shown that our people have decided not to join Governor Peter Obi and Sir Victor Umeh in chasing mirages.”

       In Ihiala Local Government Area, violence was the order of the day as election failed to take place because of lack of materials.

       It was the same story in Idemili North and South Local Government Areas considered to be the strongholds of Senator Chris Ngige of the APC.

       At Ezi-Awka Ward 4, officials of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission led by the SPO, Obiora Oyeoka, were held hostage by the electorate for not producing original result sheets.

       Electoral materials were also not made available at Umuoba-Anam in Anambra East Local Government.

       As at 3pm, no single material had arrived his area at Ezi-Awka Ward 4, while at Arroma Junction in one of the polling centres, no single ANSIEC officials was seen. Only security officials were present.

       Angry voters at Umunneoke Polling Centre seized and burnt all the electoral materials with officials of the State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) taking to their heels.

       Most of the markets and shops were opened all day for business as traders ignored Governor Obi’s directive that there should be no business activities while the election lasted.

       Vehicular and human movements were also in full swing.

       Some councillorship candidates of Labour Party -Azuka Nwobu; PPA –Chinedu Agumadu; Accord—Ekenechukwu Molokwu; PPN – Ejike Nnonyelu ;and PDP- Onyie Ekwenugo in Awka led their supporters in protesting alleged rigging by APGA.

       They alleged that the electoral officers were card carrying members of APGA and insisted the election would not take place in Awka South.

       Many of the voters who wanted to exercise their civic right expressed disappointment at the non-availability of electoral materials.

       Youths in Awka South insisted that no voting would take place unless result sheets were presented by officials.

       The situation was so bad in Umuchu, Aguata Local Government Area that the electoral officer there, Mr. Reuben Uzowulu, had to sign an undertaking that there was no election in the community.

       The agreement was signed between him and representatives of the community in the presence of security agents and party agents.

       The demanded that the election be rescheduled for an acceptable day when materials would be made available on time.

       Mr. Godwin Ezeemo, the leader of the Progressives Peoples’ Alliance (PPA) in the state, said that ANSIEC did not do a good job having planned the election for almost eight years.

       He said: “It is really painful that people have called for local government election for the past 16 years and today what we are having is a make-belief. It is heart-breaking.”

       Mr. Uzowulu, said that electoral materials got to the community late.

       There was also the late arrival of voting materials in Nnewi South, Nnewi North and Orumba North and South as well as Anambra East and West.

       However, Governor Peter Obi described the local government election as peaceful and well organised.

       Speaking at the Umudimakasi polling unit, Amatutu Ward Two, Agulu after casting his vote, Governor Obi, who was accompanied by his wife, Margaret, said reports received across the state confirmed that the exercise was going on very well and people voted freely.

       He explained that the success of the election would impact positively on the future of the state and recalled that several previous attempts to conduct the election were scuttled by some people for selfish reasons.

       The National Secretary, Forum of State Independent Electoral Commission of Nigeria and Chairman Kaduna State Independent Electoral Commission, Dr. Hannatu Usman Biniyat, hailed the ‘massive’ turn out of voters and noted that it was the first local government election in the country that recorded such a high turnout.