The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the ongoing Enugu North senatorial bye-election, Dr Nestor Ezeme, has lamented reported electoral violence at Obollo Afor, headquarters of Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State. Ezeme also decried late arrival of materials in his catchment areas.
He spoke shortly after casting his vote at his Umundu polling unit. According to him, “The delay in the process is alarming. The voting started here at about 11am. At Inland Primary School 2, where I am coming from, up to now, the time is 11.47am and there are no materials there as we speak. The same applies to the health centre at Ogwu Obollo. There is no material as we speak. These are my catchment areas. I understand the game they are playing.”
He however expressed optimism that his supporters have remained firmed. “But the people are voting for me, notwithstanding all the intimidation that is going on in the whole entire Nsukka Zone. At Ogwu, Obollo, they were carting away the whole materials as we speak. Hoodlums came and carted away the whole material. They are not popular. They are not popular, so they want to disrupt the system. But the God will vindicate us.”
He expressed hope that he would win the election despite all odds. “We will win. This is a deliberate attempt to disenfranchise my people, a calculated attempt indeed to disenfranchise my people. Just like in Inland Primary School 2, where voters have been waiting since 7am.”
Meanwhile, there was a large turnout of voters at Iheaka Central School in Igboeze South Local Government Area, the polling unit of the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate, Mr Ikeje Asogwa.
Some of the voters expressed frustration with the failure of the Biomadal Identification Verification system, BIVAS, to capture them despite several attempts.
“It is frustrating,” laments Ann Ugwu, a voter. “I have made several attempts, but the machine has rejected me. But I keep trying. I’m not the only victim.”
Another victim is Felix Eze. He said, “I thought that INEC has corrected all these BIVAS issues, but here we are passing through the same ordeals again. They continue to complain about the network. Only God knows how the 2027 elections will be if this small one is having this challenge.”
