TheCable

Heavy presence of uniformed security operatives was noticed in Abakaliki and other parts of Ebonyi state as voting begins in the local government council election.

Electoral materials for the election in the state have arrived in most polling booths and units across the state.

NAN reports that the election materials and the Ebonyi state independent electoral commission (EBSIEC) ad-hoc electoral officials arrived in most centres within the capital city as early as 8am.

Officials of the EBSIEC said that areas not yet having these materials would soon be supplied after clearing some logistic problems.

At Ishiagu community in Ivo local government area, officials and voting materials arrived polling units including Girls Secondary School, Akparata, Ajali, Ugwueziafor as early as 8am while accreditation of voters began at 9am in most units.

In Ezza North and South local government areas some polling unit has yet to receive electoral materials as at the time of filing this report.

The police, army, the civil defence corps were seen patrolling the state capital to maintain law and order during the exercise.

The Ebonyi police spokesperson, Jude Madu, assured the electorate of adequate security during and after the elections.

“We assure the general public of readiness of the Nigerian Police and other security agencies to provide adequate security in all parts of the state during and after the voting exercise,” he said.

“We advise the voting public to maintain decorum at the polling centres and ensure that they vote for candidates of their choice.

“Nobody should be intimidated by the massive presence of Police and other security personnel in Abakaliki and other parts of the state.”

Uchenna Orji, commissioner for agriculture and natural resources, who is an indigene of Ishiagu, commended EBSIEC for the conduct of the election.

Orji who spoke to NAN in a telephone interview described the turnout of voters as encouraging.

“I commend EBSIEC for conducting the finest local government area election ever and I want to use the opportunity to advise the electorate to freely exercise their franchise without any molestation or intimidation,” Orji said.

Euphemia Nwali, commissioner for water resources, noted that despite the late arrival of materials in some units, the situation was under control.

The commissioner expressed optimism that the PDP would win the election as it had no rival in the state.