Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has commended the peaceful conduct of the local government elections held across the state on Saturday.
After casting his vote at Polling Unit 007, Mbaguzo, Ashishi Owo, Nkanu East Local Government Area, Governor Mbah described the exercise as “democracy in action.”
He praised the orderly and calm atmosphere, noting it as the most peaceful local government election in the state.
The governor reassured his administration’s support for local government autonomy, emphasizing its importance in bringing governance closer to the people.
He also pledged to work with the elected officials, regardless of party affiliation.
Mbah said, ”The exercise is very peaceful. It started on time.
”This is democracy and it is a very important exercise because we are trying to elect people who will lead our people at the grassroots.
“The local government had always operated as an autonomous arm of the government. Our mandate is to ensure that our people are lifted from the level of poverty.
“We are going to support the local government to allow their programmes”.
On the turnout of voters at his polling unit, Mbah said, ”The voters’ turn out showed that people believe that government‘s decision will touch their lives.
“People are becoming increasingly aware that Government will touch their lives.
”People have resolved to choose those that will lead them. It must be done in a democratic way and we won’t take it for granted.
“So, if it’s democracy, we must allow it run as democracy. This is a level playing game for everybody”.
Meanwhile, our correspondent observed that generally the electoral materials arrived very late in most polling units. Turnout, was however, so low that in majority of Polling units only a handful of five to ten electorates were seen.
It was also observed that in many Polling units such as ORBA Ward 1 and Ward 2; including Polling Unit 001 at Umueworogu; UMUOKARA 003; UMUOKARA 004; Amukwu 1; Amukwu 002 and Amalla (Ukwu inyi) all were without result sheets.
An observer who identified himself as Ikechukwu Ezugorie, from South-East Governance Project, decried the conduct of the polls describing it an insult to democracy.
“In each of the polling stations, there was no result sheets. According to each of the Presiding Officer, the ENSIEC did not give them any Result Sheets instead they were promised that it will come to them later.
“At Amukwu, voting ended by 1.46pm. According to one Mr. Odo who claimed he was an ENSIEC staff, voting had ended. I asked if stoppage was no longer by 3pm, and he said no and ordered the officials to park and leave.
“At Amalla, the officials available claimed that the Presiding Officer absconded and so, another next in Command presided. At Umueworogu, through out the period I was there, only one elderly woman, Mrs Eke Josephine Okike, came and voted.
“In other polling stations, I did not witness any voter there, until I left such place. While at Umuokara Ward 1, a young man who identified himself as a Chairman of Labour Party, informed me that he came with a bus (packed by the side), to withdraw all their Agents. He claimed that their Party ordered them not to continue in the ongoing Local Government elections.”
