The Independent National Electoral Commission office in Abia State is a beehive of activities as trained adhoc staff of the commission begin the dispatch of electoral materials to polling units.
Accredited agents of all participating political parties are not left out as they accompany the INEC adhoc staff who are in possession of the electoral materials to polling units in the184 electoral wards of the seventeen local government areas in Abia State.
Earlier, a visit to the State INEC office showed that personnel from the military, police, and Civil Defence were on ground in the state capital.
The popular BCA junction along Ikot Ekpene road, Post Office junction at Aba road by Bende and Finbarrs junctions are blocked and heavily secured by a combined team of Nigerian soldiers and police personnel.
Situation in Abia State
Also, at Ogurube layout by Anagha Ezikpe road which leads to the Abia Office of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the state worker’s Secretariat, State house of Assembly complex, and Commissioners quarters, security operatives are presently manning the strategic area to ensure peaceful presidential and national assembly polls.
Meanwhile, at units 021 and 022 of Ohokobe Mbaocha community hall in Ndume electoral ward in Umuahia north local government area of Abia State, voters are presently in queue to get accredited by the INEC electoral ad-hoc staff.
However, speaking at the polling centre in Ohokobe community hall, a resident, Ifeanyi Nzeuzor expressed dismay at the slow pace of the accreditation process by the INEC adhoc staff.
He said, “I have been here since early morning for accreditation and the proper voting process, INEC officials have yet to start and you can see, time is running out fast, and see a massive turnout of eligible voters waiting to be accredited and exercise their civic responsibility as laws of the land empowered them.
“But I pray, the election will be successful and hitch-free which will be acceptable to everybody.
Other reactions
He also lauded the citizens who have trooped out for the election for their comportment, civility and cooperation with the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission so far.
The Abia resident further commended the level of security surveillance deployed to the polling units to forestall any breakdown of law and order and urged the electorates to eschew any act of violence that is capable of disrupting the execrise.
Also, at Umule primary school in Osisioma Local Government Area of the state, which has three polling units, our correspondent reports that there is currently a massive turnout of qualified voters who are waiting for the arrival of INEC officials with electoral materials.
As of 8am to 11am in the morning, INEC officials have not arrived to commence accreditation of eligible Abia citizens, for proper voting exercise.
Expressing dismay at the late arrival of INEC, a resident, Mr Onyebuchi Ememanka applauded the turnout of the crowd of qualified voters.
