By Cajetan Muta, Awka
As residents of Anambra state begin the process of making history to elect the next governor of the state on Saturday, smooth and peaceful exercise voters apathy, tight security a d fear has continued to greet the election.
Although the process has been smooth, peaceful and orderly in some of the areas visited, the turnout so far was very low even as accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously at 8:30 am.
Findings showed that voting materials arrived on time at most of the polling units and wards visited but a minimal number of voters were seen casting their votes at the various voting centres visited.
Some of the areas visited include units 010, 024 and 025 located at Federal Science and Technical College, Awka South LGA; Umudimi Akasi ward 02 unit 019 in Agulu community in Aniocha local government area which is the country home of former Governor Peter Obi the turnout was low with accreditation and voting going on at about 9:50 am and the presiding officer affirming that voters were yet to come out in their large numbers.
At ward one and unit 022 of High Court premises located inside the Secretariat Complex of Aguata LGA at Ekwuluobia as at 10:23 am voting was yet to start.
The Presiding Officer that the only challenge was that no voter had been able to come for accreditation and vote at the area even as Mr Ifeonu Chekwube the agent of the Young Progressive Party (YPP) candidate Mr Ifeanyi Uba was on the ground.
It was discovered that no table was provided for Mr Okefi Odinakachukwu the Presiding Officer at the polling unit.
There was a heavy presence of military personnel at Ekwuluobia market and its environs.
It would be recalled that Aguata local government area is the main battleground of the Governorship election as four out of the 18 governorship elections are from the area.
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They include the PDP candidate Chef Val Ozigbo, Senator Andy Uba of the APC, Professor Charles Chukeuma Soludo of APGA and that candidate of the Boot Party.
However, at ward two unit 14 which is at Mbraa Oye Primary School in Ugah, Agutata LGA where 750 voters are expected to cast their votes, voters were seen being accredited for voting exercise at about 10:54 am.
At Amaesi ward with 15 units j010-015) the stronghold of the PDP Candidate Chief Val Ozigbo, there was a large turnout of voters who queued to cast their votes in an orderly manner.
Voters had trooped out en masse to perform their Civic responsibility even as canopies were provided for the huge crowd of voters.
