The Enugu State Local Government election held across the 17 local government areas of the state on Saturday was largely peaceful, although reports from some parts indicated low voter turnout and delayed arrival of electoral materials.
The election, conducted by the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC), is to produce chairmen for the 17 local government councils and councillors for the 260 wards across the state. Electoral materials arrived at some polling centres in Enugu metropolis as early as 8:30 a.m.
Speaking after casting his ballot at the Otobo Amebo-Oda Ulunya Ovoko Polling Unit in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area, APC chairmanship candidate and current Deputy Chairman of the Enugu State Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Barr. Ugochukwu Ferdinand, described the exercise as peaceful and seamless.
“I have just cast my ballot at the Otobo Amebo-Oda Ulunya Ovoko Polling Unit in Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State, and I am pleased with the peaceful and seamless conduct of the election,” Ferdinand said. He added that the people were exercising their franchise in what he described as “a demonstration of patriotism and commitment to democracy,” while saying there was harmony and peace across Igbo-Eze South.
Ferdinand said information from other polling units indicated that residents had turned out to participate, adding that his proposed second-term programme, tagged “Progress Agenda 2.0,” would build on his first-term achievements and align with Governor Peter Mbah’s development agenda. “We intend to build on the developmental foundation laid during the first term in line with the works of our governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, and take it to another level through quality governance and effective service delivery,” he said.
He listed roads, security, Smart Green Schools, primary healthcare centres, pipe-borne water and solarisation among the areas his administration would continue to prioritise. “The era of lanterns and chargers has gone,” he said, promising that “there will be no down moment, no lacuna, no gap and no lapse” in his administration.
In Udenu, APC candidate Dr. Innocent Ezeoha, speaking after casting his vote at his Obodo Amaogodo Polling Unit, Imilke Enu, said he was pleased with the peaceful conduct of the election and the turnout. “I am very happy today. I just cast my vote at my Obodo Amaogodo Polling Unit, Imilke Enu, in Udenu Local Government Area. The turnout has been impressive, and I am pleased with the peaceful conduct of the exercise,” he said.
Ezeoha said the absence of candidates from other political parties had left the APC as the sole contestant in the chairmanship race, describing the turnout as an affirmation by the people. “What we are witnessing is a massive turnout and, in many respects, an affirmation by the people,” he said, thanking residents for exercising their civic responsibility.
He pledged to build on the work of his predecessor, while aligning his administration with Governor Mbah’s development agenda. “I will follow his footsteps and align with his vision for development,” Ezeoha said, adding that his commitment was to take Udenu “to a higher level through effective representation, purposeful leadership and continued development.”
In Igbo-Eze North, APC candidate Hon. Onyekachi Simon said he was encouraged by the large number of voters who turned out across the local government, describing the exercise as peaceful and free of major challenges. “Our mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters have come out in large numbers to exercise their civic responsibility. The people have demonstrated tremendous love and support,” he said.
Simon said the turnout had been massive across the polling units and described the peaceful conduct of the exercise as significant. “This is the first time we are witnessing an exercise of this nature in Igbo-Eze North, with the people coming out in such large numbers and conducting themselves peacefully,” he said.
He promised to align his administration with Governor Mbah’s development agenda, while pledging to represent all the wards and work with stakeholders. “I will work with honest and committed stakeholders to move the local government forward,” he said, adding, “A finger cannot pick flies from the air. We need one another.”
Similarly, APC candidate for Nsukka Local Government, Engr. Jude Asogwa, said the massive turnout and support he witnessed demonstrated what he described as organic acceptance of the APC. “My joy today is the massive turnout of our people. The love we are seeing is organic,” he said, adding that a monitoring team from Abuja had also observed the turnout.
Asogwa said residents had embraced the APC despite the absence of an opposing candidate and pointed to interactions at polling booths as evidence of support. “At several polling booths, people were asking whether there was anything else they could do. That, for me, is a clear indication of the level of acceptance and support among the people,” he said.
The candidate, who is seeking a second term, pledged to consolidate his first-term achievements and address areas requiring improvement while aligning with Governor Mbah’s vision. “Enugu State Nsukka Local Government is APC, and APC is Nsukka Local Government,” he declared.
APC South-East Zonal Women Leader, Dr. Oby Aji, who monitored the exercise in Igbo-Eze North, said the large turnout reflected the support for Simon, whom she referred to as “Don Chris.” “The people of Igbo-Eze North have come out en masse because they love their candidate and believe in him,” she said, describing the process as seamless.
Aji said Simon had supported the party before his nomination and had contributed to the community through philanthropic activities, including road construction. She said expectations were high for infrastructure, education and other interventions, adding that, with Governor Mbah’s support, “the local government is already at the centre of the administration’s development agenda.”
Also speaking after voting, Ugwu Ambrose, Registrar of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), said electoral materials arrived at about 9:30 a.m. at his polling area before being distributed to the various booths. “I cast my vote at Imerikani Ward at about 10 a.m. The turnout has been impressive, and the people have shown a strong interest in participating in the electoral process,” he said.
Ambrose commended Governor Mbah for making the election possible and praised voters and other participants for their peaceful conduct. “The process so far has been orderly, and I commend the voters and everyone involved for their peaceful conduct,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Okey Ogbodo, and the Chairman of Enugu South Local Government Area, Caleb Ani, commended the peaceful conduct of the election during a visit to polling areas in Amechi wards.
Ogbodo described the exercise as peaceful and credible and said the turnout in the areas he visited was massive. “The turnout is there for every person. The election is very credible and the turnout is very massive,” he said, adding, “The voters are very supportive. There don’t seem to be any problem anywhere.” He also described the exercise as an important test ahead of future elections and linked the participation to growing democratic awareness.
