The local government elections in Umuahia and Aba areas of Abia took place on Saturday amidst late delivery of materials and other logistics hitches that delayed voting.

The voter turnout was impressive in places where materials came early but low in areas where materials were delivered several hours behind schedule.

It was also observed that there was a large turnout of voters in areas where chairmanship or councillorship candidates hail from.

In Umuahia, voting commenced between 11:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. in many polling units as against 8:00 a.m., following the delay in the delivery of election materials.

Voter turnout was impressive at Aba Park Polling Unit and polling units 001, 002 and 018 at Umuwaya Road Primary School and Urban Ward 1 Umuwaya Primary School Polling Unit 29.

In an interview with journalists, some voters expressed disappointment over the delay in the delivery of election materials.

They, however, expressed delight over the peaceful conduct of the exercise at their polling units.

A civil servant, Chiwetara Okwesiri, said that, although the delay initially dampened his zeal, he was ultimately glad to vote and was impressed by the peaceful atmosphere.

A trader, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also said he had a smooth experience and was able to vote for his preferred candidates.

“At first, it seemed like the election might not hold, but I am happy it went ahead as planned, and I was able to participate,” he said.

The turnout was poor at the Abia University Primary School, Abayi, Aba.

David Chimezie, an All Progressives Grand Alliance agent at Ward 3 Unit 090, expressed concern over the poor turnout of voters.

He said only three persons voted at the unit, which was concluding endorsement of the results at the time journalists visited.

Mr Chimezie, however, said the election went on smoothly without any problems or interferences.

Celestine Ogbonna said he got to his polling unit at about 11:00 a.m.

“By that time, the materials had not come, and after waiting for about one hour and not seeing anything, I went back home,” he said.

At Ayaba Umueze Primary School Ward 3 unit 013, Happiness Amaechi, a Zenith Labour Party agent, said the turnout was massive at the unit.

He said the polling officers came around 1:00 p.m. and that voting ended when ballot papers got exhausted.

At 4:45 p.m., the party agents and polling officers at the centre were still counting the votes.

At Abayi Amaugwu Ward 3 Unit 010, the election started at about 2:00 p.m. and ended before 4:00 p.m.

Only a few persons who waited for the materials could vote at the unit, while many others who lacked the patience to wait retired home earlier.

(NAN)