The Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has won 15 out of 17 local government areas in the local government election conducted in Abia State on Saturday.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Abia LG election was conducted amidst late delivery of materials and other logistics hitches that delayed voting.
Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), Prof Chima George, disclosed that ZLP won the 15 LGAs while announcing the results of the election.
Prof George announced that the Young Progressives Party (YPP) won in the Osisioma and Ugwunagbo local government areas of the State.
The Abia local government election results were announced by ABSIEC Chairman at the commission’s headquarters in Umuahia, where he said said that the chairmanship and councillorship polls took place in the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) and that the exercise was “free fair and credible”.
“We have carried out the duty we were inaugurated on September 5 to undertake. It was not an easy task, but we went out on our way to create awareness about the elections across the state.
“It must be noted that, in recent times, this commission has not conducted an election where over 12 political parties took part, this on its own is a plus to the commission,” George said.
He stressed the election was a demonstration of the commission’s dedication, focus and efficiency. He expressed joy that the commission successfully completed, in just two months, a task that typically required six to 12 months of effort.
“I congratulate the winners and the losers too, because in any election there must be winners and losers. The most important thing is that Abia has been peaceful and I want the peace to continue.
“I appreciate the security agencies for their support, political parties for playing the game according to the rule,” George said.
TNG reports ZLP won in Isiala Ngwa South, Isiala Ngwa North, Umuahia North, Umuahia South, Ukwa East, Ukwa West, Obingwa, Aba North, Aba South, Isuikwuato, Umunneochi, Arochukwu, Bende, and Ohafia LGAs, while the remaining two LGAs of Osisioma and Ugwunagbo were won by YPP.
The local government election in Umuahia and Aba areas of Abia took place amidst late delivery of materials and other logistics hitches that delayed voting. In places where materials came early, the voter turnout was impressive but low in areas where materials were delivered several hours behind schedule.
It was also observed that there was large turnout of voters in areas where a Chairmanship or Councillorship Candidates hail from.
In Umuahia, voting commenced between 11am and 12.45 pm in many polling units as against 8am, following the delay in the delivery of election materials.
Voter turnout was largely impressive at Aba Park Polling Unit and Polling Units 001, 002 and 018 at Umuwaya Road Primary School and Urban Ward 1 Umuwaya Primary School Polling Unit 29.
In an interview with NAN, some voters expressed disappointment over the delay in the delivery of election materials. They, however, expressed delight over the peaceful conduct of the exercise at their polling units.
A civil servant, Mr Chiwetara Okwesiri, said that he cast his vote around 2p.m. Okwesiri said that, although the delay initially dampened his zeal, he was ultimately glad to vote, saying that he was impressed by the peaceful atmosphere.
A trader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also said that he had a smooth experience and was able to vote for his preferred candidates.
“At first, it seemed like the election might not hold, but I am happy it went ahead as planned, and I was able to participate,” he said.
At the Abia University Primary School, Abayi, Aba, the turnout was poor. Mr David Chimezie, an All Progressives Grand Alliance agent at Ward 3 Unit 090, expressed concern over the poor turnout of voters.
He said that only three persons voted at the unit, which was concluding endorsement of the results at the time NAN visited. He, however, said the election went on smoothly without any problem or interferences.
Mr Celestine Ogbonna said he got to his polling unit at about 11 am.
“By that time, the materials had not come and after waiting for about one hour and not seeing anything, I went back home,” he said.
At Ayaba Umueze Primary School Ward 3 unit 013, Mr Happiness Amaechi, a Zenith Labour Party agent said the turnout was massive at the unit.
He said that the polling officers came around 1pm and that voting ended when ballot papers got exhausted.
As at 4:45pm, the party agents and polling officers at the centre were still counting the votes. At Abayi Amaugwu Ward 3 Unit 010, the election started at about 2 pm and ended before 4 pm.
It was learnt that only few persons that waited for the materials were able to vote at the unit, while many others, who lacked the patience to wait, retired home earlier.
Abia LG polls: Aba residents blame ABSIEC for low voter turnout
Earlier, a cross-section of Aba electorate berated the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) for its alleged poor showing in the Saturday’s chairmanship and councillorship election in the State.
The people blamed the low voter turnout on the late arrival of ABSIEC staff and electoral materials at the polling units, which delayed the commencement of the exercise across the state.
Correspondents, who monitored the election in Aba South, report that many prospective voters, who turned up to exercise their franchise, became frustrated and left after waiting for several hours without the presence of ABSIEC officials.
At Ngwa Ward 4, materials were delivered at about 4.10pm and accreditation and voting commenced by about 4.38pm
Some voters, who spoke to NAN on the development, complained about the late delivery of election materials and officials. They alleged that the delay was delibrate on the part of the commission.
Mr Udochukwu Eze expressed joy that he finally cast his vote after waiting for a long period of time.
”I voted at Unit 13 Ward 4 and I thank God that the election did not only take place today but was very peaceful too.
“Although ABSIEC came late and many had gone home after waiting for so long but a determined voter had no option than to wait.
“I know that some are just coming from their homes to vote, while some waited nearby for the arrival of materials,” Eze said.
Another voter, Mrs Agnes Ide, expressed dismay over the delay and called on the State Government to do something so that people would not lose confidence in the electoral process.
“I almost went back home and if I had left, nothing would bring me back,” Ide said.
There were no security personnel at the polling centres visited but the exercise was generally rancour-free. Reacting to the complaints, Commissioner II in charge of Voter Education and Enlightenment in ABSIEC, Dr Kelechukwu Okere, said “it is not true that materials arrived late at the polling units”.
Okere told NAN that the commission made adequate arrangements for the seamless distribution of materials and election officials to ensure a smooth exercise.
