Nigeria Decides: Election Monitoring in Imo, Update(2)

By ThankGod Emeh, Owerri

…Contd from update(1).

As 2019 general election intensifies, the Imo NUJ Monitoring Team continued in its civil duty, storming Ohaji Egbema local government area the people of the area were seen in their numbers waiting to be accredited so they can vote.

The Presiding Officer and assistant at Egbema Ward C, booth 006 and the home of a House of Representative candidate were reportedly having issues with the card readers stressing bad network hence none was accredited as at 11:05am.

They said they have called the Presiding Officer for the RAC on rectifying the situation…over 210 people waiting at the two polling booths for accreditation and voting.

Speaking to press men, the Action Alliance Candidate for Ohaji/Egbema Federal Constituency, Engineer Kingsley Uju commended the voters for being eager and coming out en masse to demonstrate their civic responsibility.

“I sincerely thank their readiness and turn up for this election. We must be conscious of our activities and actions as we vote”, Engineer Uju said.

At 11:40am, nothing had started at Umunwaku Secondary School booths 11 and 17 for Obiokwu and Obiafor respectively. The NUJ Monitoring Team recorded absence of INEC Staff but a good number of party agents and anxious voters waiting to carry out their civic duty.

Reaching Orji Primary School, Owerri at 12:20pm, voters were being accredited in booth 006 out of the five polling booths in the center. while polling booth 007 is present and not working, polling booths 005, 008 and 009 along their INEC officers were absent.

Hundreds of voters were seen lamenting their experience having been out since 6am.

One of the women, Mrs Uzoigwe Mary decried the ugly development which if not checked would disenfranchise the people in the area and called the stakeholders to come to their help.

More details soon as the NUJ Monitoring Team continued its civic duty.