Low turnout mars Edo House of Assembly election

FILE PHOTO

MARRED by voters apathy and low turn out, the House of Assembly election in Edo State was however generally peaceful throughout the state except for pocket of violence at rustic Ogbido and Elele, near, Iyamho, Etsako West local government area, the hometown of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In all the polling units visited from the state capital of Benin to Esan West, Esan North East, Esan Central to Etsako West local government areas, there was a remarkable decline in the turnout of eligible voters in comparison to the February 23 presidential and National Assembly elections.

At Anwai, Agbede, Jattu and Iyamho all in Etsako West local government area, electoral materials arrived at the polling units as early as 7 am while voting commenced at 8 am.

At Anwai Ward 8, unit 9, where only very few people were observed exercising the franchise at 10 am, a community leader, Mr Andrew Momodu lamented the low turn out of voters.

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He said: “The turnout today is not impressive like the Presidential and National Assembly election. But so far, the election has been peaceful.”

At Ward 8, Esan North East local government, the situation was not different as voters lament low turn out.

Speaking with journalists, the commissioner for wealth creation and employment, Emmanuel Usoh, said the election was peaceful while materials arrived on time and voting commenced by 8 am.

David Olagunju