Residents of Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra State, have refused to turn out for the 2024 local government elections organised by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission.

Residents were seen within their neighbourhood but failed to proceed to voting points.

The local government election in Anambra was last held 11 years ago.

Commercial drivers were seen going about their daily business, thereby disregarding the state order on restriction of movement.

Speaking to journalists in separate interviews, some residents lamented the credibility of the electoral umpires, having failed to meet their demands in previous elections.

One of them, Chinyere Olisa, said that she was left frustrated when she was told that her name was not on the voter list during the 2023 presidential election.

She said, “I had to leave my business and travelled down home to vote during the last presidential election. I was left frustrated when they checked and told me that they could not find my name. I wasted my time and money during that election; you want me to do the same again this time, no way.’’

Another resident, a food vendor, Gloria Effiong, noted that there was not much campaigning previously before the election.

“Many were not even aware that the election is taking place today; there was no house-to-house campaign, as they used to do in previous outings. Nobody came to me to campaign, and I am sure the same applies to many others. As you can see, I am here selling food and making money for myself and my family; if they win the election today, I won’t be remembered again,” she stated.

A tricyclist who plies the popular Old Road to Nkpor junction, Samuel Chidi, said that he has been carrying out his business as early as 6:30 a.m. and had no hope of going to vote.

Mr Chidi said that the people’s votes no longer counted as the electoral umpires had pencilled down those they would announce as winners at the end of the exercise. 

(NAN)