Home / News / Local / Enugu Local Govt. Elections: Gov. Ugwuanyi casts vote; CP expresses satisfaction with deployment of security officials; `Okpa,’ sachet water sellers, make brisk business

Enugu Local Govt. Elections: Gov. Ugwuanyi casts vote; CP expresses satisfaction with deployment of security officials; `Okpa,’ sachet water sellers, make brisk business

Enugu Local Govt. Elections: Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State voting at his Amube Ohom Ward 2 polling station in Orba, Udenu L.G.A of the state, Saturday.

By Stanley Nwanosike

Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State on Saturday voted in his Amaube ward II in Udenu Local Government Area of the state.

Ugwuanyi, who voted at 11.33 a.m., told newsmen and his supporters that “I have voted and Enugu State is in the hands of God’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that polling officials and materials arrived at the council area at 10:30 a.m, and accreditation and voting did not start till about 10: 40 a.m.

NAN reports that the turnout in the governor’s ward was impressive while accreditation of voters and voting were peaceful.

NAN, however, reports that voting also commenced in other parts of Nsukka Local Government Area, but the turnout of electorate was poor.

NAN reports that the late arrival of officials and materials contributed to the poor turnout of voters.

Also, accreditation and voting began at polling units at Okpara square, in the heart of Enugu at about 11:58 a.m. because the polling officials and materials arrived at the venue at 11.53.

NAN reports that 31 political parties, including APC and PDP,  are contesting the  chairmanship and councillorship polls.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr Mohammed Danmallam, on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the deployment of security officials for the conduct of the council elections.

Danmallam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) headquarters, Enugu, that he was pleased with the security arrangement.

“I have been moving around since morning.

“I am quite impressed by the deployment and the arrangement of officers and men of various security agencies.

“I also reassure the good people of Enugu State that police and sister security agencies are on top of the situation,” he said, stressing that “Nobody should entertain fear or allow any other person to intimidate him or her today.

The commissioner, however, urged residents of the state to come out en mass to exercise their franchise by electing credible leaders at the grassroots level.

NAN reports that the state Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had fixed Nov. 4, for the polls in the 17 council areas and 261 political wards for chairmanship and councillorship positions.

Vendors of popular delicacy  in Enugu, `okpa,’ and chilled sachet water made brisk business on Saturday in Enugu, as the Enugu State  Local Government election got under way, the  NAN reports.

Though the Enugu State Government restricted movement, the vendors arrived at strategic junctions before 7 a.m. in order to beat the restriction order.

A correspondent of NAN, who moved round Enugu metropolis, reports that there was high patronage, at some of the strategic points.

The  bus stops and junctions monitored included: Major, Igbariam, Arochukwu bus stops, as well as Amaechi, IMT, Agric Bank and ESBS junctions.

Chilled sachet water vendors also made brisk business, as many under-aged boys were seen hawking the commodity, at the various polling booths.

 

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