Follow Us on Google
From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
Low voter turnout and the late arrival of electoral officials and voting materials have characterised Saturday’s local government election in parts of Edo State.
Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise in Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas, observed that many polling units recorded low voter participation, while voting was delayed in some locations due to logistical challenges.
At Agbado Primary School, Oredo Ward 4, which comprises Polling Units 21 to 41, electoral materials arrived on time and voting commenced as scheduled.
Despite the early start, only a few voters turned out to cast their ballots, leaving the polling centre largely deserted compared to previous elections.
In Egor Local Government Area, however, the exercise got off to a slow start in several polling units following the late arrival of electoral officials and election materials.
At Wards 8 and 10, many polling units had yet to commence accreditation and voting as of 9:00 a.m.
At Polling Units 9, 10, 11 and 12, located within Ugbowo Primary School in Ward 10, voters who arrived early were still waiting for officials of the Edo State Independent Electoral Commission (EDSIEC) and election materials before voting could begin.
The election was, however, peaceful in the areas visited, with security personnel deployed to maintain order at the polling centres.
Meanwhile, voting commenced early at unit 1-10 of Ward 8 in the Local government area situated inside the Uselu Secondary School.
A voter, Austin Obasogie,who spoke to Journalists, at the Oredo Ward 12, unit 21, described the exercise as very peaceful.
“As you can see people are still coming to vote. I am here to vote for the All Progressives Congress and I have cast my vote”
Another, Mr Moses Osadolor, who voted at unit 5, noted that voting started in the area early because it was the local government distribution centre for electoral materials.
He described the voters turn out of in the unit as low.
“but, I understand some people have come and gone back” he said.
For Mrs Blessing Odion, who spoke at Oredo Local Government units 1-6 of Ward 12, she said the exercise had been peaceful.
She said the turnout was low, but believed that voters were engaging in a walk-in voting system, where they come, vote and leave.
She noted that the materials arrived early at the centre early.
