Yiaga Africa has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the early deployment of election materials and personnel in the ongoing Anambra governorship election.
The Director of Programmes at Yiaga Africa, Ms. Cynthia Mbamalu, made the commendation on Saturday at the Community Primary School, Amawbia, in Awka South Local Government Area, where she monitored the commencement of voting activities.
According to her, Yiaga Africa’s observation team arrived early to track the movement of electoral materials and personnel to polling units.
She noted that by 7:34 a.m., materials and staff had already reached the polling centre, with voting commencing by 8:30 a.m. as stipulated in the Electoral Act.
She expressed hope that the prompt start observed at Amawbia would be replicated across other polling units in the state.
She said that the group would go round to ascertain that the story was the same in other parts of the state.
The Yiaga director urged INEC to ensure that full materials and personnel needed for the election arrived on time as allowed by the law.
She also appealed that functional BVAS were provided to all polling units to make the election process a transparent one.
“In the last election in the state only 17 per cent of INEC personnel and materials were present in the various polling units by 7:30 a.m.
“Yiaga Africa hopes that the story of Amawbia community primary school goes round all the polling units to change the narratives, only then will the election be described as transparent,” she said.
Mr Ade Bose, INEC Presiding Officer, said that there were two polling units 001 and 002 with 1411 registered voters.
She said that all materials for the election were on ground.
Ms Patricia Okpalachukwu of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC) and other sister agencies were on ground too.
Mr Umerah Chikwenze of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA)said that the arrival on time of the security agencies and INEC officials showed commitment to the new face of the electoral process.
He prayed for a smooth, free and fair electioneering exercise and for the election results to be upheld at last.
Mr Onyeka Uchenna representing the All Progressive Congress (APC) expressed the hope that the voters would come out on time and en masse to cast their votes to their preferred candidates.
NAN reports that at the Enugwu-Ukwu Community of Njikoka LGA ward 1 polling unit 013, materials, the personnel and voters were on ground waiting to commence voting by 8: 30a.m.
Ms Amarachi Onwe, the INEC Presiding Officer said that a total number of 538 voters were registered in the polling unit.
Mr Sunday Okorie a 56-year-old voter said that he was early at the polling unit to perform his civic right before it gets crowded, because he is not too strong to wait in a long line.
Also at ward 2, polling unit 004, Insp Comfort Oparinde and his NSCDC counterpart, a Deputy Superintendent were all on ground.
Mrs Ngozi Anagor, from ward 2, polling unit 006, at St. Ben Primary School reported the arrival of election officers at about 7:50 a.m with voters coming out in bits.
NAN reports that at about 8:a.m of monitoring, the areas reflected above had the presence of security personnel and INEC adhoc officers.