Low Turn Out Mars Senatorial Re-Run

The senatorial re-run election for the Rivers East Senatorial District witnessed poor turn out of eligible voters in all the affected local government areas.

Our correspondents who monitored the elections report that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delivered materials to the various polling stations before eight o’clock.

The election was also hitch- free in virtually all the local government areas visited as there was no incident of security breach or ballot box snatching but the possibility of multiple thumb printing exist in some areas by few politicians at the polling units.

An INEC Presiding Officer at Unit two, ward eight located at St. Michaels Primary School, Rumuomasi in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area who preferred anonymity described the low turn out of voters as worrisome as they had  remained idle  most of the time.

He attributed the lack of interest in the re-run election to the removal of petroleum subsidy by the federal government which has caused untold hardship to many Nigerians, pointing out that people had lost faith in the government.

Most of the persons approached for comments declined to speak except a young man who gave his name as Chief Amadi, in Unit 10, ward five at Elelenwo who said the re-run election was poorly publicised while the senatorial candidates failed to carry out enough mobilisation for the masses to be informed.

Chief Amadi equally fingered the removal of petroleum subsidy as another reason for the poor turn out of eligible voters during the  re-run election involving Emohua, Etche, Ikwerre, Ogu/Bolo, Obio/Akpor, Okrika, Omuma and Port Harcourt local government areas.

Those contesting the senatorial seat are Senator George Sekibo of PDP who was  removed from office following a petition by the  candidate of  Action Alliance (AA),  Mr. Michael Chizi Atata and the Action Congress of Nigeria candidate, Mr.Lasbry Amadi.