POLITICS

 

POLITICS

Voters Apathy Caused Low Turnout At Guber, Hoa Elections

By Leo Ezekiel

The Gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections of March 18^th, 2023 nationwide recorded all time low turnout of the voters who stayed away from the exercise. The voter’s apathy is as a result of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recently denying the citizenry the mandate they unprecedentedly gave to Labour Party (LP) at the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 25^th,2023. The whole citizenry felt that they were wounded by the pronouncement of the INEC chairman Prof. Yakubu Mamood thereby he declared the presidential candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu winner as the president. But, however, despite the heavy apathy of voters, the governorship and house of assembly still took place.

Speaking with iconblazemagazineonline the traditional head of Itsetiri communities of Edo State Prince Johnson Atseleghe who voted at ward 10 unit 13 of Ologbo DukeDom of Ikpoba Okha Local government Area of Edo States that the INEC personnel arrived at his unit 13 at the stipulated time adding that the accreditation of  voters effectively began. Speaking further he states that the BVAS machine worked out well, but, that there is still room for improvements. He concurs that the election is calm, orderly, peacefully adding that the sad news is the low turnout of voters.

Speaking with inconblazemagazineonline the agent of APC at unit 13, ward 10 water side, Ologbo community Mrs. Tosan Osamudiame states that the election is going peacefully, calmly and orderly adding that there is no harassment or intimidations from any quarters and she also added that there is low turnout of electors.

Speaking with inconblazemagazineonline Special Adviser to the Governor of Edo State Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Hon Ikponmivonsa Ovensen Ubringbe states that the election has been fair, orderly adding that the low turnout of voters are actually not encouraging and he also added that the BVAS machine worked out very well.

Speaking with inconblazemagazineonline, Hon. Johnson Iyamu a candidate for Edo State house of assembly for Ikoba Okha constituency of All Progressives Congress states that he is quite optimistic that he would emerge victoriously when the results would be declared by the INEC adding that there has been some irregularities associated with the conduct of the election. He says that a petition shall be raised to the INEC for actions that not included in the electoral laws and again, he says that the turnout of electors is extremely low and as well as that there is over voting in some units and he also added that at Itohan Girls Grammar School voting centre that there are old units of 33, 34 35, 36 37, 38 and the new units are 80, 81. He generally concurs the voting centre is a family to him because he says he grew up within the neighbourhood adding that if he is elected into Edo State IFOA, that he would put the constituents of Ikpoba Okha first in his working mantra and he voted at unit 34 of ward 6 Ikoba Okha Local Government Area, Benin City Edo State.

Speaking with inconblazemagazineonline, the chairman, ward 5, Oredo Local Government Area of People’s Democratic Party Hon. Jeveton. Agbontaer States that the election is free, fair, credible and peaceful, adding that the turnout is painfully low and he also added that there is no victor or no vanquished in the race. He says that there are 45 minutes in ward 5 while there are six units at Olilia Primary School Benin City, Edo State which also serves as a collation centre. He says that the stolen mandate of generality of Nigerian has caused low interest of the electorate.

Speaking with inconblazemagazineonline the Ikpoba Okha constituency Edo State HOA elect Hon. Nickolas Anosere states that he dedicates his victory to the hosts of heavens and as well as the constituents of his constituency adding that he is going to the hallow cambers to represent his constituents very effective and efficient where all and sundry shall provided for. He says that only God himself can make him to the speaker of 10^th Assembly of Edo State hallows chambers.   

Speaking with inconblazemagazineonline, the Unhunmwode constituency Hon. Kaycee Osamwoyi states that his winning is divine adding that he began the dreams of becoming elected members of Edo State house of Assembly since 2019 and finally the will of God and the people have prevailed. He says that he is going to represent his constituents qualitatively which shall translate heavy developments and empowerment.