An All Progressive Congress (APC) agent in Oyigbo Ward 5, Unit 10, Mrs. Comfort Ndu, has expressed concern over the low voter turnout in the Rivers State local government elections, pointing to insufficient voter education as the primary cause.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday, Ndu noted that while the electoral process was smooth, participation remained disappointingly low.
“We were hopeful for a strong turnout, but very few voters have shown up to exercise their rights,” she lamented.
Ndu highlighted that some voters were turned away because they were not registered at the polling unit, a problem she attributed to poor voter education.
“Better awareness campaigns could have addressed issues like voter transfer and relocation,” she said, urging authorities to prioritize intensive voter education for future elections to boost participation and streamline the process.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission’s Returning Officer for Ward 7, Unit 1, Mr. Ekemsi Ukwa, reported a smooth start to the process.
“Sensitive electoral materials arrived at 9:40 a.m., and accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously at 10 a.m., with voting set to conclude at 3 p.m.,” he confirmed. Ukwa added, “The process has been hitch-free so far, with voters trickling in.”
A PDP agent, Mr. William Warigbani, revealed that the PDP had unanimously endorsed the APC chairmanship candidate, Okechukwu Akara, and noted that the election was proceeding smoothly with party members actively participating.
NAN observed security presence from the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps at polling units, ensuring order.
At Obeama Community Primary School, while a few voters were casting ballots, some youths were seen playing football on the school field, underscoring the low turnout.
