AHOADA EAST/WEST LGAs: Voters Apathy, Violence Trail Council Poll . . . APGA Calls For Cancellation
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by Queenzabeth Irobukansi
Voters apathy and violence are reported to have characterised the today’s Rivers State Local Government election in Ahoada East and West local government areas of the state.
Speaking to journalists, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) councilorship candidate, Mershack Philip Nnodi alleged that some known Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) members from his Ward 8 hijacked the electoral materials.
Nnodi, who said he traced the materials to the private residence of the incumbent Chairman, Hon Ben Eke along Odiemerenyi Road, Ahoada Town, added that the ‘PDP boys’ even manhandled him.
He called on his supporters to remain calm in the face of provocation by the PDP, urged Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission (RSIEC) to cancel the purported Ward 8 elections.
According to others from Ward 8, “We have waited since morning to no avail. Materials have been hijacked by the PDP.
“They know that their candidates were not on ground. We intend to vote them out,” they individually challenged.
Newton Gordon Kpasa, the Chairmanship Candidate for All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) in Ahoada East Local Government Area, who spoke on phone with Boch News , also alleged that there was no voting in his entire Ward 11, comprising of Odiemerenyi, Ekpena, Odhiajie, Odhimudhi and Odhiesama Communities.
He said, “We did not see the result sheets. Ballot papers weren’t complete. These were the reason my people refused to vote. There was nothing to vote for.’
Confirming the apathy, the CDC Chairman of Abarikpo Community and a PDP stalwart, Samuel Ogwu Goodlive blamed the low voters turn out on poor organisation and lack of performance.
The story was said to be same in virtually all Wards, except Ward 5, where relative peace was witnessed.
In Ahoada West local Government Area, it was said to be worse, electoral materials have not been sighted by the people in most of the wards visited by a group of media men.
