Edo LG Election: Low Voter Turnout, Late Arrival Of Materials Delay Voting

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

There was a low voter turnout in many polling units during Saturday’s local government election in Edo State, despite the early deployment of election materials to some centres.

Our correspondent, who monitored the exercise in Oredo and Egor Local Government Areas, observed that most polling units recorded sparse voter participation throughout the morning.

At Agbado Primary School, Oredo Ward 4, which houses Polling Units 21 to 41, election materials arrived on schedule and voting commenced as expected.

However, the polling centre lacked the usual crowds associated with elections, with only a handful of voters turning out to cast their ballots.

In contrast, the exercise was delayed in parts of Egor Local Government Area due to the late arrival of electoral officials and voting materials.

At Wards 8 and 10, several polling units had yet to receive election materials hours after the scheduled commencement of voting.

As of 9:00 a.m., voters gathered at Polling Units 9, 10, 11, and 12, located within Ugbowo Primary School in Ward 10, were still waiting for electoral officials and voting materials before the accreditation and voting process could begin.

The low turnout and logistical delays in some locations contrasted with the generally peaceful atmosphere observed at the polling centres visited.

Meanwhile, voting commenced early at unit 1-10 of Ward 8 in the Local government area situated inside the Uselu Secondary School.

A voter, Austin Obasogie,who spoke to Journalists, at the Oredo Ward 12, unit 21, described the exercise as very peaceful.

“As you can see people are still coming to vote. I am here to vote for the All Progressives Congress and I have cast my vote”

Another, Mr Moses Osadolor, who voted at unit 5, noted that voting started in the area early because it was the local government distribution centre for electoral materials.

He described the voters turn out of in the unit as low.

“but, I understand some people have come and gone back” he said.

For Mrs Blessing Odion, who spoke at Oredo Local Government units 1-6 of Ward 12, she said the exercise had been peaceful.

She said the turnout was low, but believed that voters were engaging in a walk-in voting system, where they come, vote and leave.

She noted that the materials arrived early at the centre early.