Saturday’s council polls in Rivers state witnessed low voter turnout in polling units across the 23 local government areas of the state.
Our Correspondents who took a tour of Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Oyigbo, Eleme and Obio Akpor reported voter apathy, absence of electoral materials ,a situation which an unnamed chieftain of the Peoples Democratic ( PDP) claimed might have been hijacked by fellow party members.
In Andoni, home town of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, a source said the National Chair was no where to be seen. Another party faithful who preferred also to be anonymous told current matters that irreconcilable differences between warring PDP leaders might have further deepened, edging the National Chairman ‘s faction out of the election.
In Khana and Gokana, it was gathered that some APC leaders who had querried the APC’s action of being excluded in the ballot supported candidates of the ruling PDP.in the state.
In Etche, a resident, Ngozi Anyanwu expressed dismay at the elections,
According to her, the election from the beginning of the process of nomination of candidates favoured only those who have the backing of the governor.and his men and said there was no need to go out and vote.
” Its a waste of time and energy. Why should I go and vote? Who am I voting for when they have already written the name of the winner? My vote won’t count so I won’t waste my time.
” Democracy is about making choices, Choosing who should lead us. It is not by force. When you nominate someone and you don’t want others to have a say what kind of democracy is that?
” I have heard that winners emerged before the election so why did government restrict movement when it was already a done deal
” Look at our roads, from Okehi to Egwi, the road is bad. That is the route for many travellers to East and West even to the North ,does it look as if we matter in the state?” She asked
In Abua, there were pockets of fracas between security operatives and hoodlums although that was yet to be confirmed.
In Onelga, where the former Chairman of the party comes from, turn out was also very low with materials reportedly not sighted in many polling units.
In PHALGA, ,town and Diobu areas, security agencies were seen moving from one location to another without being overwhelmed by the usual electoral offences.
It was a field day for the PDP as other parties boycotted the election, which they claimed was improper.
