LP Presidential Candidate, Obi Lauds Success Of Elections

Yesterday ’s presidential and national assembly election in Anaocha Local Government Area has been adjudged peaceful.

This was the reaction of the Presidential candidate of Labour Party and a former Governor of Anambra state Mr Peter Obi and the Anambra Central Senatorial District candidate under Labour Party, Senator Victor Umeh, shortly after casting their votes.

Speaking at Amatutu, Agulu ward one, unit zero-one-nine, Mr Obi said that the election was very seamless and fast as the BIVAS machine works within minutes to accredit voters without hitches.

Mr Obi added that absence of security personnel in the area was a clear indication that Anambra is peaceful.

On his part, Senator Umeh after voting at Aguluzigbo Town hall, unit zero-one-eight, noted that the crowd at the Aguluzigbo hall was unprecedented, describing the election as the most peaceful so far.

Meanwhile, voters at polling units zero-zero six, zero-zero-seven and zero-zero-eight at Uruokwe Central School, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area had to volunteer as adhoc officials for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to ensure that voting holds in the area.

This is after youth corps members earlier trained and deployed for the exercise failed to turn up.

Only the pesiding officers who were not youth corps members reported to duty, making some voters volunteer to serve as adhoc officials.

The difficulty posed a challenge as the volunteers were untrained and had difficulties with handling the BIVAS machine and following laid down procedure for the exercise.

It was the same situation at Polling Units eighteen and nineteen, Umuanyiegbu Hall, Ward four, Ozubulu, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.

Expressing concerns over the issue, Messers Jerry Udengwu and Jude Emecheta said after they got some volunteers to work and assist other INEC officials, they started with separate accreditation and voting which was different from the directive given by INEC for the voting process.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC in Anambra State, Dr Queen-Elizabeth Agwu told Journalists on Friday that the commission is ready for the exercise despite any attempt by their adhoc officials to pull out from the exercise.