By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The candidate of All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for Njikoka Local Government Area (LGA) election, Hon. Chinedu Ononiba, Saturday, exercised his franchise at polling unit 002, Ifite-Ani, Iruokofia, Nimo ward 2.
Ononiba, who voted around 12.30pm, described the exercise as hitch-free and credible, praising the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC), the security and voters for their conduct.
He praised governor Chukwuma Soludo on his various developmental projects in the State, including keeping to his promise of conducting a Council poll that is free, fair and credible.
The Njikoka Council boss, while praising the youth and aged for conducting themselves peacefully during the exercise, urged all eligible voters yet to vote to come out, queue behind and vote according to their choice.
Fatcheckng.com, who monitored the exercise across the 21 Council Areas and 326 electoral wards, reported that voting commenced at most polling units between 11am to 1pm due to late arrivals of officials and ad-hoc staff of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).
At Awka South LGA, it was discovered that despite the ANSIEC’s earlier announcement that voting would commence at 8 am and conclude at 4 pm., officials were not seen as at 10am at over 20 polling units located at Ukwu-Oji government house residential area, Aroma junction, Enu-Ifite, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Kwata and Unizik junctions, Amawbia.
Similarly, at polling unit 001 Nawfia, polling units 001 and 002 at St. Benedict Catholic Church Enugwu-Ukwu, and 002 and 003 Ifite-Ani, Iruokofia, Nimo ward 2 in Njikoka LGA, voting started from 12 noon due to late arrivals of materials and ANSIEC officials as well.
An electoral observer, Mr Ike Nwankwo, who covered some parts of Ogbaru Local Government Area and Anambra East Council Area, told our reporter that "No ANSIEC ad-hoc staff, security personnel, or electoral materials have arrived. Only one APGA party agents are present as at 11am."