• Sun reporter attacked
From Obinna Odogwu, Awka & Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
The state House of Assembly election in Anambra State was characterised by low turnout of voters across the state.
From Awka to Onitsha, Nnewi to Nkpor, Ekwulobia, Ogidi and Obosi, the story was the same: scanty people coming out to vote while INEC officials waited for the closing time to count the votes and dismantle their materials.
This was a clear departure and a direct opposite of what happened in during the presidential and National Assembly
elections held on February 25 when many came out but could not vote as their numbers overwhelmed the INEC officials who reported late at most polling units.
The exercise also witnessed open cases of vote buying with some party agents wooing prospective voters with cash or collection of their account numbers for money transfers.
Governor of Anambra State, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo voted at his Polling Unit 002 Ovuiyi, Umueze, Isuofia, Aguata LGA at about 11:30 am.
He commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for early commencement of the voting process in the state.
The governor, who expressed optimism that the will of the people would prevail, also said that the turnout of voters was low compared to the previous elections and encouraged Ndi Anambra to step out and exercise their civic obligations.
Police arrested five armed thugs in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State during the exercise.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, in a statement, said that the thugs stormed the area to disrupt elections, but were arrested by police operatives.
He said four pump action rifles were recovered from them.
Also, thieves operating with motorcycles in their numbers invaded some polling units in Awada, Obosi and some parts of Ilo Okoye in Odume, Idemili North LGA, Anambra state robbing voters of their valuables and disrupting the voting exercise.
The boys suspected to be Obosi youths who specialised in land speculating invaded Awada Primary School as voters were expressing angry when INEC said some of their sensitive materials were missing.
The boys had a free day as they descended on the voters with daggers and cudgels, snatching phones and cash from the bewildered voters.
The Sun reporter who just arrived at the premises on the occasion was caught up in the confusion as many ran for safety.
The hoodlums descended on the reporter ransacking his pocket for cash while others surveyed his car to collect any valuable on sight. They also picked his phone, but his mention of the names of Obosi traditional ruler and his palace
Secretary, saved the situation as one of them prevailed on other to back off.
They robbed many within the premises and also scattered voting materials in the compound after chasing others away before they zoomed off on eight
motorcycles.
Sources within the vicinity said they had earlier repeated same act in two other
polling units within Awada.
At all the polling units, and other visited, there was no presence of security agents. .