Voters’ apathy mar Ebonyi supplementary elections

Voter apathy trailed Saturday’s supplementary election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission in Ebonyi.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that there was a low turnout of voters in some of the polling units visited in Ikwo Local Government Areas of the state.

The supplementary elections are taking place in some constituencies in the seven affected LGAs in Ebonyi, including Abakaliki, Afikpo North, Afikpo South, Ezza North, Ezza South, Ikwo and Ivo.

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The election is being conducted in Ikwo to elect the representative for the Ikwo North constituency in the Ebonyi House of Assembly.

INEC declared the elections inconclusive in the areas due to violence and irregularities.

In Ndiogadoshi playground, polling unit 017 ward 02 in Ikwo LGA, NAN reports that INEC officials arrived with materials at 9:25 a.m.

In Ugbodo village hall and Olua playground, INEC Officials were present but voter turnout was low.

An INEC official, who spoke in anonymity, told NAN that accreditation was going smoothly but was worried by the apathy among voters.

“The BVAS is working well and accreditation is ongoing,” the official added.

Some eligible voters, who spoke to NAN, cited indifference among other things, as the reason for their lack of interest in the process.

Mrs Joy Nwanchor, a trader, said she could not have an interest any more after the general elections.

“The voting is just a waste of time and energy because the votes do not count in any way in this country, Nigeria. So, no need for me queueing for voting,” Nwanchor stated.

Another voter, Mr Sunday Chukwu, also expressed worry over the election processes, pointing out that there was a need to revamp the electoral body if we want to have credible and reliable elections in the country.

“I cannot go out because the last elections were not encouraging. Whether I vote or not a winner will emerge,” Chukwu added.