Anambra 2021: Late Arrival of INEC Staff, Materials Mar Exercise

Late arrival of staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has been reported across Anambra State in the ongoing Governorship election.

Also, there have been no voting materials, which are brought by INEC staff as voters turned out in large numbers waiting at their various polling units.

The Situation Room told THE WHISTLER that as at 8:25am in Nnewi South Local Government, at 20 Azigbo Central School ward, “No election official present.”

According to The Situation Room, Party agents were however, present.

At Oyi Local Government, voting materials were still being sorted out at the local government headquarters as at 9:30am with observers expressing worry when the materials would get to the polling units for voting to commence.

An eyewitness who contacted THE WHISTLER said, there was heavy presence of security agents but electoral officers reported late thus affecting early distribution of voting materials.

At Central School, Amasi, voters were waiting for INEC officials to arrive with voting materials. As at 09:40, that had not arrived.

At the St John Secondary School, Awka, there was palpable fear as no security agent was sighted. It serves as Anambra South Rack Centre.

But election materials arrived at Eri Primary school Unit 001, Otuocha 1, Aguleri, Anambra East as at 07:38am early enough for voting exercise to commence according to a voter who hinted THE WHISTLER.

The unit has 1, 162 registered voters but the presiding officer, Linda Akudo, who apologized for not arriving earlier blamed the situation on poor preparation.

However, the general outlook on the conduct of the voting exercise has been late arrival of election materials as voters wait in their various polling units.