Enugu LG poll: Residents blame voter apathy to lack of awareness

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The Enugu State Local Government Election conducted in the state witnessed late arrival of materials and poor turnout of voters.

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A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the election on Saturday, observed that electoral materials started arriving at polling centres as of 9:45a.m. within Enugu metropolis.

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Most ​‌‍‍‍‍⁠⁠‌⁠‍‌‍‌‍​‌‌​polling centres within the state capital at Timber Market, Maryland, Independence Layout, Community Primary School, Ugwuaji, Abakpa Nike witnessed poor voter turnout.

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Reacting, the former Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Chief Chiemezie Nkwuo, said that by 12 noon the polling centres would be filled with voters.

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‘Some residents came here before 8a.m. but later went home to attend to domestic issues and businesses,” he said.

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Meanwhile, a resident, Mr Dominic Agu, said he did not vote because the election had already been concluded, as only the candidates from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) contested.

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“There is no local government election. What we have are affirmations of candidates. So there was no need to come out and vote,” he said.

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Another resident, Nkechi Nwankwo, said that local government elections had never been contested, as the government in power imposed candidates on the people.

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According to her, there was never a level playing ground for opposition parties to operate. So it is a winner-takes-it-all system.

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NAN reports that the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) conducted elections into the 17 councils and the 260 wards in the state. (NAN)

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