The Enugu State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Deacon Okey Ogbodo, and Chairman of Enugu South Council, Mr Caleb Ani, have commended the peaceful conduct of the ongoing Local Government election in the area.
They gave the commendation when they visited Amechi wards to monitor the exercise on Saturday. Ogbodo said the election had recorded massive voter turnout, describing the exercise as peaceful and credible.
According to him “Just like you have observed, the turnout is there for every person. The election is very credible and the turnout is very massive.
“The voters are very supportive. There don't seem to be any problem anywhere.
“I have gone around, particularly in our local areas and all the wards, and discovered that it is very peaceful and very credible,” he said.
The commissioner said the peaceful conduct of the election was a positive indication of the growing democratic awareness among the people.
He said the exercise would also serve as a test for the two forthcoming elections, adding that the development was a good sign for the country’s democratic process.
“Like I said earlier during one of my interviews with journalists, this is a test of what is going to happen in the next two elections which we are waiting for.
“It is a very good sign of the democratisation that is taking place. Our people are becoming aware and they know what to do.
“Democracy is no longer nascent. Our people are becoming aware and they have a good understanding of where we are and what to do. I think it is a very good one and it is commendable,” Ogbodo said.
Ani in an interview with Journalists said the large turnout of voters demonstrated the people's interest in the electoral process.
“I can tell you that what you are seeing here today is a show of love from our people because of the activities of the APC in Enugu State, starting from what His Excellency, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is doing and that of the Governor of Enugu State.
“And what we are doing at the local level, courtesy of His Excellency, the Governor, I can tell you that this exercise is going on in all the 13 wards and 321 polling units of Enugu South Local Government Area.
“If you turn around, you can see that our people have come out en masse and the whole exercise is very peaceful,” he said.
He described the exercise as one of the most peaceful elections witnessed in the area in recent times.
He attributed it to the peaceful conduct to the enthusiasm of the people to participate in the electoral process and support the state and local government.
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