Anambra central rerun: INEC ad-hoc staff abandon duty posts, protest pay

Low voter turnout characterised early voting in the Anambra central senatorial district rerun election organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

NAN reports that in Awka south, Awka north, Dunukofia, Njikoka, Idemili north, Idemili south and Anaocha local government areas, electoral officials were at the polling units by 8am on Saturday.

At Aroma junction I and II polling units in Awk south, Edith Igoromi, the INEC electoral officer, told NAN that only five people had voted as at 8.30am, while at ward eight, unit three and four, seven and 10 persons had voted.

At Alaba town hall polling unit 005 and 006, both in Dunukofia, voting began at 8 am with four persons and two respectively voting at both units.

The same situation was reported at Akpu, also in Dunukofia.

Also as at 10.30 am, electoral materials were yet to arrive at some locations, including Central School Nkpor-Agu and Nkpor Ward two, both in Idemili north.

Nwachukwu Enekwuwa, an agent of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), called on INEC to sort out the problem while allaying fears that it may affect the outcome of the election.

Two security personnel from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, who pleaded anonymity, said they arrived Nkpor ward two as early as 7am but were yet to see any electoral officials for the exercise.

Meanwhile, in all the polling units visited, only APGA agents were sighted at the voting centres.

Okonkwo Jisike, the APGA agent at Aroma junction, told NAN that he was impressed with the peaceful conduct of the exercise, adding, “though the turnout is low, the exercise is going on peacefully’’.

TRANSPORTERS, CORPS MEMBERS ABANDON DUTIES

Some transporters engaged to move materials for the election in Idemili north abandoned the assignment.

According to them, the part payment they were given were insufficient.

Ayeleso Olutope, the INEC electoral officer in the area, told NAN that all materials for the election were supposed to have been moved to the polling units by 5am.

Olutope regretted the hitches recorded, saying while some transporters conveyed the materials, some refused on the grounds that the part payment was insufficient for the job.

He said some NYSC members engaged as ad-hoc workers also demanded that their stipend be paid before they commence work.

The corps members claimed that while some of their colleagues said they have been paid, they were yet to be credited.

A transporter, who gave his name as Johnson Uchendu, said because of the hike of petrol price, he would have to spend more money than budgeted to fuel his vehicles.