Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo said the voter apathy witnessed in most parts of the state during Saturday’s House of Assembly election was envisaged.
Uzodimma, accompanied by his wife, Chioma, said this after voting at Polling Unit 032, Uzuh Omuma in Oru East Local Government Area at about 12.40 p.m.
“The voter apathy was envisaged because over the months, our people have been under seige by bandits with killings and other criminality.
“But gradually, government has taken full control and security agencies have now occupied the space.
“The public is beginning to appreciate that we are on top of the situation,” Uzodimma said.
The governor commended INEC for a “seamless process”, saying that the commission had improved on the electoral process.
“We have actually recorded improvement from what happened in the last election.
“What happened last election can be blamed on the inability of our people to understand the technology.
“But now, people have taken time to study the process that once you present your PVC, you are accredited to vote and then you leave the scene after voting.
“I think I have seen a seamless process here and INEC has done a good job. The technology is good,” Uzodimma said.
He urged Nigerians to continue to study the process “so that with time, we can perfect the new system of voting.
“We need to continue to create the awareness, educate our people so that they can know that the power to contribute to governance is through voting.
“If you don’t come out to vote it means you can’t blame the government but if you come out, it means you are a stakeholder,” he said.
The Presiding Officer for the polling unit, Mrs Janet Okonkwo, said that no fewer than 225 of the 464 registered voters had voted as at 12:25 p.m. (NAN)
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