The Ngor Okpala Constituency by-election conducted in Imo on Saturday witnessed a low turnout of voters in many polling units.

Eleven candidates are contesting in the by-election for the House of Assembly seat declared vacant following the long absence of the former occupant.

Correspondents who monitored the exercise reported that sensitive and non-sensitive election materials arrived at the polling units as early as 8:30 a.m.

Some of the areas visited were Logara/Umuohiagu, Ndiuhu Umuokoada Logara, Umuorisha Umuohiagu, Umuchoko Junction, Umuohiagu, and Community Primary School, Upe.

Accreditation and voting started at 9:25 a.m. at Central School Umuoye 2 in Imerienwe but witnessed a low turnout of voters.

There was a noticeable presence of security operatives at the voting points and checkpoints on major roads in the areas including at Upe Autonomous Community.

The presiding officer at Ward 5, Central School Umuoye 2, polling unit 003, Qassim Usman, said that accreditation and voting started at 8:30 a.m. without hitches.

Esther Ewuru, the presiding officer at Polling Unit 007, Ward 5, said about 25 voters had been accredited as of 10:00 a.m.

Meanwhile, commercial activities were going on unhindered in many areas.

INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo, Chukwuemeka Ezeonu, had said 94,060 registered voters, the figure as of 2019, were expected to cast votes in the bye-election. 

(NAN)