The Nation Newspaper

Category: Anambra Election

  • Anambra guber poll records impressive turnout

    Anambra guber poll records impressive turnout

    The Anambra governorship election has witnessed impressive turnout of voters at most of the polling units.

    Correspondents who monitored the exercise on Saturday in the three senatorial zones of the state, report that voters were seen in most of the polling units visited as early as 7.30 a.m. waiting to be attended to by the electoral officials.

    Security officials were present in all the polling units visited.

    At Aguleri in Anambra East Local Government Area, the country home of Gov. Willie Obiano, the governor said he was happy with the massive turnout of voters.

    Obiano urged the people yet to come out to do so, noting that effective participation by the people was the only way they could support the advancement of democracy.

    The APC governorship candidate, Dr Tony Nwoye, also told newsmen that the turnout was high and impressive.

    In Oyi, Orumba North and South, Awka South local government areas as well as Onitsha, our correspondents report that the turnout was high in the polling units visited.

    However, the turnout in parts of Orumba north and south was poor because of late arrival of materials and officials of INEC.

    At Aroma Junction, Agu Oka Polling Unit 004 in Awka South Local Government Area, Mr David Anyamele, a Local Election Observer, described the exercise as peaceful and smooth.

    Anyamele, a member of Centre for Citizens with Disabilities, told NAN that he was impressed by the turnout of voters in most of the polling units he visited.

    But at Fagge Area of Onitsha, the turnout was not very impressive.

    Igwe Nneamaka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha, said that the unimpressive turnout in Onitsha was because majority of people working and doing business in Onitsha were not residents of the area.

    “Most of them live in Nkpor, Obosi, and Idemili areas, but only come to Onitsha to work and do business.

    “The Obi in Council had earlier met and directed the town criers to go round the various communities and announce to the people to participate in the election,’’ Achebe said.

    He described the conduct of the Nov.18 governorship election as smooth, peaceful and fair.

    Meanwhile, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association ( NBA ) Election Working Group, in Onitsha said that the poll began on a good note.

    The Coordinator of the group, Mr Adewale Ademola, said that the materials arrived and all the materials, including ballot boxes, card readers and results sheets were intact.

    Ademola said the card readers were all in good working condition and that the election was smooth.

    NAN

  • Nwoye accuses Police of harassing APC members 

    Nwoye accuses Police of harassing APC members 

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Tony Nwoye has raised the alarm over the systematic clampdown of the Chieftains and supporters of the APC.

    Nwoye who spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ofianta Polling Unit 002 in Nsugbe, Anambra East Local Government Area, alleged that the Police is colluding with ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to compromise the exercise.

    According to the APC candidate, who arrived the polling unit shortly after 12 noon, “I am worried about the intimidation of APC supporters by the Police. They having been arresting key APC Chieftains. From the calls I got, Police have been arresting APC Chairmen. In some other cases our supporters have been brutalized by thugs aided by the Police”.

    He however commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the preparation and conduct of the election so far, “so far I score INEC 50% but I expect improvement in the areas there are hitches”.

    On his chances, he said, “I am optimistic that APC will win the election at the end of the day”.

  • Voting materials yet to arrive Umuchu ward 1

    Voting materials yet to arrive Umuchu ward 1

    As at 12.30pm, when The Nation called  at polling unit 001, Civic Centre, Ward 1, Umuchu, where the governorship candidate of the PPA, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, is registered to vote, voting materials had not arrived and there was no INEC official on ground. Whereas voting started at 11am at the unit next to his.

    Ezeemo expressed frustration over this development, saying it is a deliberate attempt to deny his supporters the opportunity to vote.

    He said: ”I am not desperate to be governor, but I’m worried about way we are treating ourselves. I’m worried about this nation. The ruling class wants to impoverish this nation.

    “Black people are not naturally liked. They are treating our people as if they are idiots. It is a vicious cycle, in my life time I don’t see anything happening in our country. I will wait until 2pm, if they don’t show up, I will go home.”

  • Anambra election: Obaze yet to vote 

    Anambra election: Obaze yet to vote 

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Henry Oseloka Obaze is yet to vote as the time of filing this report by 12.40pm.

    Several journalists who have been waiting for him at his unit in Ochuche Omudodu Central School are beginning to wonder if he will vote.

    However, with voting not ending until 2pm, they have no choice than to wait till voting officially ends.

    Feelers from other senatorial districts indicate that most of the 37 candidates of the other parties have voted.

    A former Anambra State House of Assembly member Ifeanyi Nzekwu, who is PDP’s agent at Obaze’s unit, said he was still expecting the PDP candidate.

    “We’re still expecting him. The area is calm and I can say the election has been almost perfect here.

    “I have not heard any reports of violence or ballot box snatching anywhere. It’s been peaceful so far,” he said.

  • Anambra poll: Gov Obiano, Chidoka vote

    Anambra poll: Gov Obiano, Chidoka vote

    Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra has called on the people of the state to come out en masse to exercise their franchise and ensure that their votes count.

    Obiano spoke shortly after casting his vote at Eri Primary School in Aguleri, Anambra East Local Government Area at 9:50 a.m.

    He said he was okay with the conduct of the governorship election so far in the state.

    “I am okay with the election and I am confident of securing victory in the poll,” he told newsmen.

    Obiano commended the people in the council area for their impressive turnout for the poll.

    Also, UPP governorship candidate, Chief Osita Chidoka, voted at Obosi Central School at 10:05 a.m.

    Chidoka, however, decried the late arrival of officials and materials to some polling units.

    The PPA governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Ezeemo, also spoke in similar vein.

    He said he had been out to his Umuchu Ward 2 since 8 a.m., but the electoral officers had yet to come, hours after.

    NAN

  • Voting ongoing in most polling stations in Anambra

    Voting ongoing in most polling stations in Anambra

    Voting have started according to schedule across most polling stations in the Anambra state, irrespective of threat by proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    Turnout at the various polling units visited by The Nation, was impressive contrary to anticipated low turnout.

    At Ofianta polling unit 11 in Anambra East Local Government Area,  where the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC),  Dr. Tony Nwoye, accreditation and voting commenced at about 9.27 am,  as against the 8 o’clock takeoff time fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Meanwhile voting was going on simultaneously at the eight polling units in the ward.

    But the APC candidate was yet to arrive at the polling unit as at 11.10 am.

  • Police arrest two suspects of LG chairman of APGA

    Police arrest two suspects of LG chairman of APGA

    Two suspects said to be working for the local government chairman of Anambra east were yesterday arrested by the police for causing trouble during voting

    But the state governor,  Chief Willie Obiano declared that he is confident of winning the election.
    He spoke after voting at about 9.57am at eri ward four in Anambra East local government area of the state
    However,  he lamented that his finger print was not found,  but he succeeded in voting manually,  adding that he would have a landslide victory
    The cause of the arrest of the two suspects followed the fight that erupted at Nsugbe,  Tony Nwoye’s ward,  allegedly caused by members of the All Progressive Grand Alliance.
    Meanwhile,  the election was peaceful with heavy security deployed every where in the state.
    The threat by the indigenous people of biafra IPOB was a flop as voters turned enmass to vote for their candidates.
  • More voters turn out in Obaze’s unit

    More voters turn out in Obaze’s unit

    More voters are turning out in Unit 14 in Ogbaro where People Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Oseloka Obaze expected to vote.

    An All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) agent Enebeli Augustine said the process has been peaceful.

    “I have not seen anyone harassed or intimidated,” he said at about 11am.

    A 76-year-old farmer Patrick Ogbune said he voted for his brother Obaze.

    “Oseloka is my brother and I want him to win. If he wins, he must make Ogbaru a better place,” he said.

    Another voter, Ifeanyichukwu Nzekwe, said Anambra deserves a good leader.

    “We want a leader that will bring us out of darkness. Everything has been going on peacefully in the ward,” he said.

     

  • Elderly man arrested at Amawbia

    An elderly man has been arrested at the Community Primary School Amawbia, sharing money to prospective voters from Ghana must go sack. INEC commissioner Chief Solomon Soyebi who witnessed the incident said he will be dealt with.

    Soyebi agreed that the process started slowly but that it has picked up.

  • Low turnout as accreditation, voting begin 

    Low turnout as accreditation, voting begin 

    There is a low turnout of voters in several polling units in Ogbaro Local Government Area, Anambra North Senatorial District.
    Voters appear to be in no hurry to come out in several units.
    However, in Ward 406 (Ochuche/Ogbakuba/Amiyi/Umuzu), accreditation and voting began at after 9am rather than 8am.
    The Presiding Officer, Okoli Nzube, addressed about 10 voters on queue in Unit 014 at about 9.10am.
    He informed them that voting and accreditation would be simultaneous. He urged them to be orderly.
    There are 548 registered voters in the unit in Central School, Ochuche Omuodu, but only less than 15 were on queue.
    The number is less in Unit 01 in the same ward, where less than 10 persons were on queue as at the time of filing this report.
    Voting materials arrived on time in all the units visited.
    Electoral officers were ready with the materials as at 8am at Units 01 and 018, Ward 05 (Iyiona/Ochekpe/Ohita 1 Registration Area) located at the Odekpe II Central School.
    However, there were no voters on queue by 8.30am.
    Voters were seen checking their names on lists posted on walls in the unit.
    There are 944 voters in Unit 018, while there are 1,529 in Unit 01.
    No incidents have been reported in Ogbaro. Soldiers were seen on major roads on stop and search duties.
    At the polling units, policemen and officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) provide security.