- Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC conducted council election on September 21, 2024
- Low voters’ turnout, missing electoral materials nearly marred the election
- APC, Labour Party cry foul, describe the process as charade
It was another local government election year in Enugu state. The state was agog with a lot of political activities especially for the ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP as they were said to have closed all loopholes to avoid a repeat of 2023 election episode when the state lost majority of its seats, safe for governorship to Labour Party.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the election was scheduled to hold on October 5, 2024 but was brought forward following a court order to that effect.
The Chairman of the electoral body, the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) Prof Christian Ngwu on August 27, disclosed the new date for the Chairmanship and Councillorship polls in a chat with newsmen, stressing that the commission was acting in compliance with the state High Court judgment, delivered by Justice C.V.C. Ezeugwu on August 27.
It was reported that the court compelled the commission to conduct council elections on/or before September 21.
However, on Saturday, September 21, 2024, the council election was held throughout the seventeen local government areas in the state with over ten political parties taking part in the election.
Nevertheless, WITHIN NIGERIA reporter who went round some of the polling units in Nsukka metropolis gathered that late arrival of electoral materials coupled with voter apathy marred the election.
At Nru Umuoyo ward 1, Nsukka local government, voters waited till about 1pm before they could cast their votes.
Our reporter also gathered that there was huge voters’ apathy during the election as many people shunned the election and stayed in their houses during the election.
One of the voters who spoke to our reporter, Mr. Gabriel Okonkwo told WITHIN NIGERIA that it was unfortunate that the election being conducted by the state electoral commission was being denied till 1pm before it could start.
“In 2023 during the general elections, electoral materials didn’t arrive this late. I think this delay was a deliberate action by the ruling party to manipulate the election. As you can see, many people didn’t come out before of what happened in the 2023 general which people were not happy at all.”
At Alor-Agu ward, also in Nsukka local government area, election did not take place there. This was because the state electoral body could not provide voting materials like ballot papers and result sheets.
Also at Ward 4 and Ward 5 in Enugu South Local Government Area, Uwani, few voters were seen at the centres as early as 8am to exercise their franchise.
It was gathered that accreditation commenced at 9am while voting commenced at 9.30am. Security personnel were also seen making sure voters conduct themselves in orderly manner.
In any case, as the situation continued to worsen, the All Progressives Congress (APC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Labour Party (LP) protested the exclusion of result sheets among the election materials at polling units during the polls.
It was reported that the protest began when Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) officials arrived at polling units at 9:40 a.m. without the essential documents.
At polling units 008, 020, 003, 002, and 001, located at Christ Church, Enugu South Council, the APC and LP agents refused to proceed with the election until result sheets were provided.
An LP agent, who wished to remain anonymous, told newsmen that ENSIEC provided other materials, but the result sheets were missing.
“The Supervisory Presiding Officer claimed she had the results, but would only bring them in the afternoon for the Presiding Officer to enter scores.”
An APC agent who pleaded anonymity corroborated this, stating: ‘There will be no election without result sheets.”
APGA’s Acting Chairperson, Ekene Uzodimma, reported similar issues in Awgu Ward 9, where election materials arrived without result sheets.
“Many polling units in my ward have not received materials by 11 a.m.”
At Ward 4 and Ward 5 in Enugu South Local Government Area, Uwani, few voters were seen at the centres as early as 8am to exercise their franchise.
It was gathered that accreditation commenced at 9am while voting commenced at 9.30am. Security personnel were also seen making sure voters conduct themselves in orderly manner.
One of the voters, Mr Christopher Nnamani, expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct, but expressed dismay with the number of people who turned out for the exercise.
“This number does not reflect the registered voters in this ward,” he said, adding that, “I think the economic realities in Nigeria have returned voter apathy to the people. During the 2023 general elections, it was a different ball game, and I suspect that the emergence of Mr Peter Obi in the presidential race was the magic. I advise voters not to lose hope.”
Also, at Ward 5, Robinson Street Primary School, Uwani, Enugu, Mr Okechukwu Ogbodo, a voter, attributed the apathy to mistrust in the system.
He said, “The electoral system in the country has prevented the citizens from coming out to cast their vote during elections. I call on the governments and INEC to fashion out the best way for the citizens to believe in the system.”
Security chiefs in the state were seen monitoring the exercise at some locations to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls
At Udenu local government, the chairmanship candidate of Labour Party Mr. Linus Onah, withdrew from the race after he allegedly noticed irregularities in the system.
In a letter he personally wrote, he alleged manipulation of the election by the ENSIEC.
The letter which was entitled, “Labour Party withdraw from Udenu council election over irregularities partly read thus;
“My dear good people of Udenu,
“With a heavy heart and deep disappointment, I stand before you today to announce my withdrawal from the Chairmanship election scheduled for today, September 21, 2024.
“The electoral process has been compromised, and the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), which is supposed to be impartial, has failed to provide the basic requirements for a free and fair election.
“There are no result sheets and voter registers at the polling units, which renders the exercise meaningless. It’s clear that the state government and the Governor are manipulating the process to favor their party, the PDP. This is unacceptable and undermines the democratic principles we hold dear.
“As the Labour Party Chairmanship Candidate, I refuse to participate in this sham election. We cannot legitimize a process that is designed to disenfranchise our people and perpetuate bad governance. The people of Udenu deserve better.
“I request ENSIEC to cancel this shamble called election and reconduct a free and fair election.
“I urge all Labour Party supporters and well-meaning citizens of Udenu to remain calm and peaceful. We will explore all legal avenues to address this injustice and ensure that the voices of our people are heard.
“Thank you for your support and understanding, and may God bless Udenu”
All efforts to get the ENSIEC chairman to comment on the allegations proved abortive as he was not picking his calls.
However, ignoring the allegations, on Sunday, the electoral body declared the results of the election in all 17 local government areas.
The ENSIEC Chairman, Prof. Christian Ngwu, who declared the results on Sunday said the Commission conducted free and fair elections in the local government areas.
Declaring the elections as the fairest, Ngwu said the commission carefully collated and analysed the results to ensure that there were no mistakes.
“We carefully collated and analyzed the results to ensure that there were no mistakes,” he said.
However, none of the opposition candidates that contested the chairmanship positions was at the ENSIEC Collation Centre where the election results were declared.
Expressing joy at their victory, chairman-elect for Oji River local government, Greg Amyaegbudike said he would make youth empowerment his watchword.