A NON-GORVENMENTAL organisation, ActionAid Nigeria, has claimed that it observed the late arrival of officials and materials during the Enugu local government elections conducted on Saturday, September 21.
In a statement signed by its country director, Andrew Mamedu, the organisation said the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) officials, who conducted the exercise, arrived late at most polling units where voters cast their ballots.
Only 60 per cent of polling units were open by 11:45 am, it stated.
ActionAid, in partnership with the South Saharan Development Organisation (SSDO) and the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC), said while a few locations, such as Uzo Uwani, received materials and officials promptly before 9:00 am, most polling units experienced significant delays, with ENSIEC officials arriving between 10:00 am and 11:00 am.
It added that some areas, such as Enugu North and Awgu, faced severe challenges, including incomplete materials, missing result sheets, and delays in the commencement of voting.
The organisation stated that in locations like Obiagu Primary School in Enugu North, conflicts erupted due to incidents of multiple voting, while areas such as Aninri and Udi reported a total absence of officials and materials.
It added that despite these setbacks, peaceful accreditation and voting were observed in select locations like Uzo Uwani and Oghe 1.
“The opening of polls during the Enugu LG elections was marked by significant delays across most polling units, with only a few locations starting on time. Uzo Uwani had the earliest commencement of accreditation and voting by 10:20 am, following the arrival of election materials at 8:45 am.
“By 11:45 am, only 51 per cent of the observed polling units had ENSIEC officials and materials present, leaving 49 per cent without any ENSIEC officials.
“However, in most instances, polling units such as Enugu East (Obinagu Village Square) and Enugu North (New Haven Primary School) did not begin voting until between 10:30 am and 11:00 am,” the group stated.
ActionAid added that many locations, including several units in Awgu and Isi Uzo, experienced severe delays, with some reporting that neither ENSIEC officials nor voting materials were present well into the afternoon.
On voter turnout, the group said it was a mixed situation across the polling units.
it said Uzo-Uwani reported over 800 voters by 11:56 am, while several units in Igbo Eze North, Enugu East, Igbo Etiti, and Nsukka recorded zero turnout.
This is in contrast to Enugu North, Nsukka, and Udenu which experienced moderate turnout, with many units reporting around 50 voters by 11:30 am.
The civil society organisation said it observed that women and youths made up a significant proportion of the electorate, with youth turnout particularly high in areas like Aninri and Uzo-Uwani.
Voting was peaceful in many polling units, it said.
However, delays in the arrival of election materials, particularly in Igbo Eze North and Isi Uzo, hindered the voting process.
ActionAid Nigeria also observed that some polling units, such as Nsukka and Udi, had not started voting by 11:30 am, leading to frustration among voters.
Observations indicated that 42 per cent of the polling units experienced disorderly conduct from political party agents.
Only 39 per cent of the observed units had provisions in place for persons with disabilities (PWDs), the elderly, and pregnant women to vote easily.
The CSO said the security arrangement at polling units was inadequate, with 51 per cent lacking any security presence.
Observers reported that no instances of party agents attempting to bribe voters or ENSIEC officials with money or gifts were witnessed during the exercise.
The ICIR reports that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) cleared all the 17 LGAs in the state.
A reporter with the ICIR
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