Residents Praise Fubara, Say Rivers LG Poll Most Peaceful Election Ever
Edith CHUKU
Overwhelmed that the Saturday’s local government election in their area was held without any form of violence, some electorate in Unit 9, Ward 14 which comprises Eneka and Rukpokwu, poured encomium on the governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara.
They thanked Fubara for ensuring that the LG election held not minding that his party, PDP, did not participate in the election.
Describing the LG poll as the most peaceful election he ever witnessed in the state, Mr. George Da-Onari Charles, told TNN that he was surprised at the turnout of electorate, following the rumours of possible crisis and violence.
He said, “I was even surprised when I saw old men and women who came out to cast their votes, I thought that they will all stay at home due to the threat and other things we heard but they still came out and casted their votes. We believe in justice; we are hopeful that our votes will count. “The governor took his stand and said that despite that his party is not participating that doesn’t mean that other parties will not participate in this election, that it is justice and the right of the citizens because if this election does not hold, it’s the citizens that will suffer it.
“I love what the governor did by allowing other parties to exercise their franchise. I have voted. Though the material came late. We know what might have delayed it a bit, due to the construction of the bridge and probably they took other roots to ensure that this exercise took place.
“When they came, we all came in here and started voting, many people have left. So far, as old as I am now, this is the most peaceful election I have ever witnessed in Rivers State.”
Also speaking, the party agent of the APP in the unit, Mr. Ogbonda Prince Chuku, expressed excitement over the election.
He said, “as you can see, the unit is very peaceful and calm, you can see voters from everywhere around the unit, coming out en masse to vote for their preferred candidate for the chairmanship position and that of the councilor of the ward.
“You can see it’s very peaceful, people are lined up to cast their votes, everything is peaceful. I am very, very impressed about the turnout in my unit, you can see the kind of crowd we have, people are voting, people are still coming, you see people trooping into the primary school, I am impressed because people actually turned out to vote.”
Ogbonda blamed the low turnout of voters in some other units on means of transportation.
He explained that “you know they are doing flyover in Eneka roundabout, so the means of going to the polling unit is the challenge, you know Rumuogunuoma is very close to that flyover and there is no way to go inside the community, I think means of transportation is the challenge.
“This is primary school, we had to drive through Igwuruta direct to this place, there was no challenge, so people should expect such low turnout because of the flyover.”
To those that will emerge winners, he said, “the message is very simple, they should keep to their promises, that’s how they can judge their conscience, keep to your promises, you have told us why you want to be elected, so if you emerge as winner keep to those promises.”
On his part, Mr. Henry Nelson who also said he was impressed by the turnout explained that “we were told not to come out because of fear but to my surprise when I came here, everywhere was peaceful, so I voted and other people that came with me voted. I am still here, there is no problem, no challenge, we voted successfully.
“I am very, very impressed by the turnout, I did not even expect to see what I am seeing, I was thinking that nobody will be here but to my surprise when I came here, I voted and see a lot of people that came out to vote also.”
