In the recent Abia State local government elections, Governor Alex Otti’s Labour Party (LP) suffered a major setback, failing to secure any wins, while the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) and the Young Peoples Party (YPP) emerged as the leading victors. The ZLP claimed victories in 15 local government areas, and the YPP won two chairmanship positions, leaving the ruling LP without a single seat.
The election results were announced by Professor George Chima, Chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), who congratulated both the winners and the losers, urging all candidates to adopt a spirit of sportsmanship. Chima also thanked security agents and stakeholders, acknowledging their efforts in maintaining peace during the elections.
“Abia State is peaceful, and I encourage everyone to continue to uphold this peace,” he stated.
However, the election was marked by delays in the distribution of materials and the late arrival of election officials, which frustrated voters and affected the turnout. ABSIEC had initially scheduled the arrival of materials at polling stations for 7 a.m., with voting expected to begin at 8 a.m. However, reports indicated that as of 11 a.m., materials had yet to reach many polling units.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed significant delays in key areas, including Umuahia South, Osisioma, Aba North, and Aba South local government areas. In many of these locations, polling units lacked both electoral materials and officials hours after the expected start time. The turnout was also notably low, with only a few prospective voters waiting in frustration for the materials to arrive.
Polling units affected by these delays included Units 009 and 015 at Avonipupe Primary School, Unit 008 at Ipupe Village Hall, Units 011 and 012 at Ogbo Central School, and Units 007, 013, and 017 at Umuosu Community School. Voters, election officials, and even security personnel were reportedly absent from several locations, casting a shadow over the election process.
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Two residents in Ubakala, near Umuahia, expressed disappointment at the election’s disorganization. Mrs. Joy Eze, a hairdresser, shared her frustration, explaining how she monitored her polling unit throughout the day.
“I kept checking when the voting would start, but there was no sign of it. Eventually, I had to go back to attend to my customers,” she said.
Another resident, Mrs. Onyinyechi Ishmael, voiced skepticism about the value of voting, citing past experiences.
“Honestly, I wasn’t interested in this election. In my experience, votes don’t really count here in Nigeria, so I didn’t see the point,” she remarked.