Fatshimetrie roving correspondents monitored the elections and observed a heavy security presence in the polling stations and areas visited.
Reports indicate that residents were going about their usual business as very few people were present at the polling stations visited at PU 002 located at Ofuiyi Square, Umueze in Isuofia ward and PU 007, Ozala Central School in Isuofia ward 13 of Aguata LGA.
Other polling stations visited were PU 002 in Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall in Umuona and PUs 004, 005, 006 and 007, all in Umuona in Aguata Local Government Area.
At Ofuiyi PU, No. 002, Isuofia Ward, Aguata LGA, election officials arrived at 8:15am and voting started at 8:30am, while at PU 002, Ward 01, Ekwulu Village Hall in Umuona, voting materials were yet to be distributed by 9am.
A voter, Joy Okenyi at Ward 01, PU 002, said the low turnout was due to lack of interest.
“In a normal election, you see many political parties and their candidates contesting and campaigning, but in this case, it is just one party, so people have lost interest,” she said.
John Ikpeze, a voter at Ofuiyi PU, No.002, Isuofia Ward, Aguata LGA, said he was optimistic about the voters’ turnout.
“You know, local government elections are after many years, so people are always trying to ensure that the election is held.
“I believe that now that the election has started in many polling units, people will come out and vote,” he said.
Meanwhile, potential voters in Awka South were stranded as officials of the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) were absent in some polling units.
It was gathered that around 11am, polling units around the government area, also known as Agu Awka in Awka South LGA, had neither the electoral documents nor ANSIEC officials.
There was also an absence of polling agents at the Nwafor Orizu Demonstration School in the Commissioners’ Quarters, Awka.