News

Explosion Rocks Anambra Polling Units

Published

9 years ago

March 28, 2015

Explosion greeted a polling unit in Awka Anambra State IN the morning of election day when electorate in the area were preparing for accreditation.
Though the State Command is yet to make a Statement on the incident, eye witness account has it that the explosion occurred at Amaenyi Primary school at about 7.25am.
Eye witness who confirmed the incident who gave his name as Mr.Isaac Nwosu said that voters came out for accreditation but were shocked beyond marrow when the explosion occurred disrupting the exercise .Mr.Nwosu lamented that one of the class room blocks was demolished as a result of the explosion .
Another eye witness whose name is Uche Ndigwe said that only one person in the area was capable of such dastardly act due to desperation to win in the area .
As at the time of the explosion , anti-bomb squad were seen making frantic efforts to quell the situation . While INEC adhoc personnel were also seen accrediting voters inspite of the frenzied atmosphere in the area .
Shortly after the incident, security operatives took the scene controlling human traffic in the area .
Meanwhile eligible voters in Anambra State have lamented over the non functioning of the card reading machines .
In most polling units polling units in Enugwu Ukwu ,Nri, Agulu and Aguluzigbo in Anaocha council area had similar problems of card reader machines.
Also in some parts of of Ihiala local government area electorate turned out enmass but electoral material arrived late.
Reacting to the situation, the Governor of Anambra State chief Willie Obiano described the development as embarrassing nothing that reports from all parts of the State show that the card readers are not working.
Also reacting to the issues of card reading machines, the National Chairman of APGA and the party’s senatorial candidate for Anambra Central Sir Victor Umeh lamented that electorate were frustrated while trying to get accredited.
He however expressed hopes that since INEC also approved the use manual accreditation, people would be allowed to vote.
In her own reaction the PDP senatorial candidate for Central Hon. Uche Ekwunife described the process of accreditation exercise as cumbersome adding every other aspect of of the election was in order.
Former Anambra State Governor Mr Peter Obi who spoke to reporters expressed worries over the late arrival of INEC staff and electoral material but expressed hopes that voting will take place.
Similarly Sen Chris Ngigi refused to cast his vote saying that he will not be part of faulty elecoral process.
He also said that this is inline with the directve of the National Chairman of Apc that the party should reject results from south east and south south political zone beacuse of the use of manual accreditation.