Emerging reports from Journalists and Civil Society Groups monitoring the ongoing Anambra Governorship election, indicate that a lot of irregularities have characterised the Anambra Governorship election.
It was learnt that most of the smart card readers deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, malfunctioned in several polling centres.
The Election Observers also report that many political parties offered money and food to voters in exchange for votes.
The Reporters on ground termed the situation at Illo Abito Square, in Nsugbe, as “Stomach Infrastructure”, as party agents were seen encouraging people to vote, by sharing plates of cooked rice.
Also, Willie Obiano, the current Governor of Anambra State, who is running for a second term in office, was said to have addressed voters after he cast his vote, an action which is tantamount to campaigning.
WE recalls that the Electoral Act stipulates that all forms of the campaign must stop 24-hours to the day of voting.
Abiola Akiyode, a member of the Transition Monitoring Group, witnessed the incident and described it thus: “The most worrisome aspect (of this election) is that the Governor came with a microphone to address the people.
“I think it is a sort of campaign. Since I have been observing, I have never seen any Governor go to that extent to talk to people on an election day.
“I think he should have avoided the temptation, even if people are pushing him to do something”, she said.
“What he spoke about is a sort of campaign, saying that at the end of the day he would have cause to be happy. I think these are not things one should expect on an election day.”
It was also reported that the card reader could not read Obiano’s fingerprints, but it authenticated his voter card, so he had to resort to manual accreditation.
Also, in many polling units, including the one at Central School Onosi, Idemili North LGA, which is the polling unit of Osita Chidoka, one of the contestants in the election, the electoral materials arrived late.
“I hope the late arrival would be taken into account in considering when the election would end”, Chidoka told Premium Times.
“We are also awaiting reports from our situation room, to find out if the same thing was experienced across the State.”
There was a freshly pasted poster of the APC candidate, Tony Nwoye, contrary to the Electoral Act.
“This poster was freshly pasted around this unit”, a voter said, adding that, it is to reiterate their stand, and that so far the money has been good, but he refused to state how much he was given.
In Ihiala, it was a vote and write your name, in order to collect money from APC and APGA. APGA was allegedly N3,000, and APC N2,500.
At Amaudo/Umeze Primary School 1, in Isseke, Ihiala LGA, both PDP and APGA candidates were seen ‘hustling’ for voters.
The PDP agent said he has been playing with his money, to match APGA’s N3,000 per vote.
At Umedim ward 1, in Otolo, Nnewi, people queued up to collect money from APGA, after voting same for APC allegedly.
At CPS Odekpe, ward 5, Ogbaru LGA, party agents believed to be working for the PDP, were seen sharing N2,000 each to voters.
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