Chief Ugochukwu Okeke, a Chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has decried the late deployment of electoral Officials and materials for the supplementary election for the Anambra gubernatorial contest in the Ihiala Council Area.
Ugochukwu spoke shortly after casting his vote at PU 20, Odoata Central School, Uzoakwa, in Ihiala LGA about 2 pm.
He regretted that four hours was lost to the deployment of logistics for the exercise which was supposed to commence at 10. am
The Chieftain who is a former gubernatorial aspirant under the platform of the PDP said he was happy that the BVAS captured him in less than three minutes while expressing hope the efficiency of the machine would keep improving.
He commended security agencies for the relative peace in the area but expressed concern about six communities that had been identified as hotspots and were yet to get deployment of men and material.
The communities, he noted, included Mbosi, Azia, Iseke, Orsumoghu, Ubuluisiuzo, and Lilu
Ugochukwu, who is the Secretary of the PDP Campaign Council in Anambra state, called on INEC to ensure that every eligible voter in those areas votes in every part of Ihiala.
He urged the Electoral body to consider extending the period of voting beyond four pm to make up for the lost time before the exercise started.
“As you can see I have just cast my vote and this is about ten minutes after two and I was the third person to vote in my polling unit, the process of verification was fast but there were delays in some cases.
“I am calling on INEC to improve on the technology. INEC told us that they will be here as early as possible but you can see the delay we experienced, I am calling on them to ensure every eligible voter in Ihiala cast his or her vote, and I am sure that, that way, PDP will spring surprises,” he said.
On his part, Mr CDon Adinuba, Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment in Anambra expressed confidence that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) would extend its lead at the end of the Ihiala election.
Adinuba blamed the late deployment of electoral officials and materials on traffic congestion and the peculiar security situation in the area.
He said Ihiala remained a stronghold of APGA and that the party was expecting about 90 percent share of total votes cast.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were still electoral materials waiting for deployment at Ihiala LGA headquarters at the time of filing the report.
