2023 Elections: Huge turnout, early voting in Anambra, Enugu

Most Polling units in Awka, Anambra and Enugu the state capital witness massive turnout of voters for the Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Supreme reports.

The correspondents, who monitored the exercise at Ukwuorji, Agu Awka, Aroma, Ogbugbankwa all in Awka and Anaocha reports that the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were already attending to voters as early as 8.am.

At Aroma, 009 Awka ward 8, an official of the commission who did not want her name in print told NAN that they were mobilized early to enable them arrive before 8.am.

“As you can see, it is 7.45am and we are already here at exactly 8am we will start attending to voters,” she said.

The same situation was recorded at Polling units at Ukwuorji Awka Ward 3, Ogbugbankwa, Awka ward 5 and Agulu in Anaocha Areas.

Also at Polling unit 019, Amatutu Agulu Anaocha Local Government Area where Peter Ob, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party votes, the officials were already done with more than 40 voters as at 9.am.

Mrs Elizabeth Okoye, 80-year old widow, said she had a seamless accreditation and had voted a candidate of her choice before 8.30am.

“I have voted and it didn’t take time before the BVAS machine cleared me to vote to a candidate of my choice at Amatutu 019 Polling unit, Agulu,” she said.

The reports that the turn out was impressive in most of the areas visited with visible presence of security operatives in the voting areas and strategic locations in the area.

Electoral officials arrived Amatutu, Agulu in Anaocha LGA, the voting point of Mr Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.

The officials who arrived Amatutu with the voting materials for Polling units including sensitive and non sensitive materials at about 8.03 am had also set up the voting area.

Meanwhile, Peter Obi has expressed hope that the exercise would be peaceful.

Obi, who was strolling on the streets of Amatutu said he had rejoined with his roots and became a ‘village man’.

“This is how we live here in Agulu, everybody is somebody, we respect each other.

“I am now in my Village, normally walking in the morning and checking on my people, I have a town union president general and a traditional ruler. We respect them a lot.

“We do not segregate,” he said.

In Enugu, there was massive turnout of voters including the elderly and some people living with disabilities.

Meanwhile, there was late arrival of materials in many polling stations across the state.

At Okpara Square, Federal Government College, Nza Street polling units in Enugu North Local Government, as well as at IgbariamSt., Emmanuel Church in Achara Layout, votings are about to commence as INEC officials were seen setting up their polling booths and materials.

There is adequate security presence in most of the areas visited.

Supreme reports that materials have yet to arrive at Eha-Ndiagu ward in Nsukka LGA hence voting yet to commence in all the polling units in the ward as 10am.

Also, in parts of Udenu, the same scenario is being observed. Though materials have arrived the RAC center at Government Secondary School Ogbodu-Aba, they are still being allocated to polling units hence voting yet to commence.

At Amaechenu polling booth under Eha-Ndiagu Ward are becoming restless and confused.

A voter, Mr Joseph Onah, said he was frustrated because he ought to have gone the farm instead of wasting a whole day doing nothing.

“I am not used to idling away when there are things to be done, ” he said.

A stakeholder from Ogbodu-Aba said that the materials were being sorted out but almost done.

“We are almost done and will soon get to the polling booth,” he said.