Enugu Council Poll Marred by Low Turn-out

Late arrival of materials, voters apathy as well as difficulty in locating voting centres last Saturday marred the local government council conducted by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC). The exercise was however peaceful in most parts of the state.

The Tide checks revealed that the low turnout of voters may not be unconnected with the general belief by the opposition parties in the state that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had already cleared the poll ever before the election as the parties’ eleven chairmanship candidates were returned unopposed.

Only three parties including the Action Alliance (AA), Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) and the Peoples Progressive Alliance (PPA) fielded candidates in six councils of Udenu, Igbueze South, Oji  River, Enugu South, Nkanu West and Enugu North local governments.

It was revealed that voters in Enugu and its environs remained indoors from 6a.m to 1p.m., while other residents simply went about their normal business, despite the order restricting movement and closure of all markets in the state to enable the electorate exercise their franchise.

At the Obingu Edinburgh Ward 8, it was discovered that only two persons had cast their votes as at 1p.m. when newsmen visited the polling unit. Officials of the electoral commission said they had enough materials, stressing however that they could not find the voters.