By John Ugo, Awka
Discoragement and Voters apathy have rocked the Saturday March 18th 2023 rescheduled House of Assembly election in Anambra’ state.
Many young voters who were displeased with the conduct of the February 25 Presidential election openly destroyed their permanent voter cards to e press their frustration.
Simultaneous accreditation and voting started at about 8:43 am, though with low turnout of voters unlike the huge number of voters who voted during the last Presidential/National Assembly election held on February 25th 2023 polls
The conduct of the House of Assembly election into the 30 state constituencies across the 21 local government areas of Anambra’ state however commenced peacefully.
The Staff of INEC and election materials arrived at about 7:30am at the Agu Awka ward 1, polling unit 008 and ward 2 polling unit 009 Aroma in Awka the state capital.
Other areas visited include Saint Matthew Catholic Church Amawbia with three units, Community Primary School and Adabebe polling units and parts of Umueri, Ezi Awka Primary School.
Some of the voters at some of the polling units were seen seated under canopies provided as shelter from the scotching sun at designated areas.
Plain clothe and armed security operatives of the state command were spotted at various voting centers to ensure law and order.
Checks shows that all markets, businesses, petrol stations, and motor parks remained closed although there was skeletal movement of vehicles and commercial tricycle operators contrary to the restriction order by the police in the state.
Some vehicles were siezed and persons arrested by team of police on patrol around the capital town for violation of the order on restriction of movement by the police.
Investigations revealed that most of the voters refused to come out to cast their votes because they are not happy with the outcome of the Presidential election held on February 25th which according them did not reflect the wishes of the people.
Some political parties have caught in on the voters disenchantment and discouragement by the past elections to mobilize their members to come and cast their votes for their parties.
One of the aggrieved voters Pastor Emeka Okolie said that people are not happy because INEC did not conduct free abs fair election on February 25