The Local Government Council elections held in Benue state has witnessed voters’ apathy as most people did not to turn up to cast their votes.
Recall that the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission, BSIEC, has slated the election for 7th May and later moved it to Saturday, 30th April 2022, for the sake of convenience.
As at the time of filling in this report, some polling units in Makurdi town, majority of the voters were yet to arrive the polling units going by the quantity of vote cast.
Our correspondent gathered that the conduct of the election was peaceful also observed that the processes were free and fair.
By 11am, voters were still trickling into some of the polling stations in Makurdi, the state capital.
At the Federal Inland Revenue Polling Unit 041, Wailomayo Council Ward, the Presiding Officer, Martha Micheal who confirmed that she received all necessary materials early enough said the process was peaceful and orderly but noted that the turnout was low.
“We do not have any incidents. We collected our materials very early in the morning. I can also tell you that the process is very peaceful but the turn out of voters is low.”
At the Padopass Harmony Polling Unit 024, Wailomayo Council Ward ll, the Presiding Officer, Clement Ancha told journalists that the process was smooth without hitches just as he noted that the turnout was low.
Speaking to journalists after he led a delegation of Chairmen of State Independent Electoral Commissions to monitor the process, the acting Chairman, Mr. Jossy Eze commended BSIEC for ensuring that the process went well.
Mr Eze said “so far in the places we visited I noticed that firstly the election is peaceful, there is general voter apathy because from the number of registered voters compared to the numbers that have voted the turn out is low, but there is still time and people may still come to vote.
“We also noticed that it is a convivial atmosphere and the voting environment is conducive for voters to come and cast their votes without intimidation.
“But the area the Benue State Independent Electoral Commission would have to go back to the drawing board in future elections is the issue of apathy because the turn out is poor.
Recall that the All Progressives Congress, APC, had earlier said they will not not participate in the LG election. However, findings indicated that six political parties had their logos on the ballot papers including Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Social Democratic Party, SDP, All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, Labour Party, LP, African Action Congress, AAC, and Action Alliance, AA