By Handel Patrick
The Chairmanship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Anambra East Local Government Area, Mr. Hillary Obike, has called for the immediate cancellation of the local government election in the area, describing the process as a "sham" lacking any credibility.
Speaking at his polling unit,
Unit 018 Michael Tansi in Aguleri, Mr. Obike expressed deep disappointment with
the conduct of the election, stating that, as of 12 noon., he and many others
had yet to cast their votes. "I have not voted. There's no election,"
Obike declared.
He further noted that his
polling unit, with a registered voting strength of about 78 or 79, received
only 25 ballot papers. In addition, there were no result sheets provided, with
election officials presenting only an exercise book for record-keeping.
According to Obike, election
officials claimed there were instructions from the state government to record
the results in exercise books and send them to Abuja for computation.
"This is unacceptable," he stated. "Some polling units don’t
even have ballot boxes or ballot papers. Is this how elections are supposed to
be conducted?"
He described the process as an
orchestrated attempt to disenfranchise voters in Anambra East, warning that
such actions undermined the democratic process and aspirations for development
in the state. "This disenfranchisement, intentionally done, is not the way
to achieve the vision of a ‘Dubai or Taiwan’ model that the Governor speaks
about for Anambra State."
Mr. Obike pledged to challenge
the election outcome legally, insisting that he and his supporters would not
remain silent. "We will contest this shambolic election. I plead with the
Governor to cancel it immediately," he said.
Similarly, Mrs. Ifunanya
Edochie, a voter at Ameze Polling Unit 004 Aguleri ,voiced her frustrations,
revealing that materials for voting were not adequately supplied to her unit.
"This polling unit, with a voting strength of over 3,000 people, was only
provided with 50 ballot papers. It's a disgrace," she said.
She noted that her polling unit
is the same one where former Governor Willie Obiano casts his vote, adding that
the entire process was riddled with irregularities. "We’ve heard that the
election has already been rigged, and I am deeply disappointed. I, too, am
calling for the cancellation of the election in Anambra East."
As of the time of filing this
report voting has not commence anywhere in many parts of Anambra East Council
Area
Post a Comment