By Okechukwu Onuegbu
INEC officers deployed for the 2023 House of Assembly elections at polling unit 034 Garuba Square situated inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State were found sleeping on duty between 8am to 12noon, following absence of voters.
The poll is recording a low turnout otherwise known as voter apathy across all the polling units in Anambra State.
Meanwhile, the 2023 Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Mr Peter Obi and Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo have exercised their franchise at their respective polling units in the State.
Obi voted at Amatutu, Agulu in Anaocha Council Area at about 11:20am, while governor Soludo cast votes at Polling Unit 002 Ovuiyi Umueze, Isuofia, Aguata Council Area at 11:30 am.
The former Anambra Governor lamented over the low turnout of voters, which according to him, could be because electorate were discouraged to come out following what transpired in the last poll that did not reflect the people’s wish.
He also condemned vote buying currently being witnessed all over the polling units, describing it as transactional politics.
On his part, Soludo disclosed that the poll was moving smoothly as reports available to him indicated that INEC officers deployed were at various polling units early.
He said he was optimistic that the will of people will prevail at the end.
"From the information available to me, I have sampled views across the state and it seems to be going on fairly well in terms of deployment of logistics and early commencement of election. I think there is a great improvement compared to the previous election in terms of the arrival and deployment of materials. It seems to be going on well, relatively peaceful", Soludo declared
