Residents of Onitsha, the commercial city of Anambra have refused to turn out for the 2024 Local Government Elections organised by the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent, who monitored the election on Saturday, observed that residents were within their neighborhood, but failed to go to voting points.

NAN reports that the local government election in Anambra was last held 11 years ago.

NAN also observed that commercial drivers were seen going about their daily business, thereby disregarding the state order on restriction of movement.

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

Mrs Chinyere Olisa explained that she was left frustrated when she was told that her name was not among the accredited voters during the 2023 presidential election.

?I left my business and traveled 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 same again this time, no way,? she said.

Another resident, a food vendor, Mrs Gloria Effiong, narrated that there was no much campaign previously before the election.

?Many were not even aware that election will be taking place today, there was no house to house campaign, as they used to do in previous outing.

?Nobody came to me for campaign, and I am sure same applies to some many others.

?As you can see, I am here selling food and making money for myself and my family, if they win election today, I won?t be remembered again,? she explained.

A tricyclist, who ply the popular Old Road to Nkpor junction, Samuel Chidi, said that he had been carrying out his business since 6:30 a. m. and had no hope for going to cast his vote.

Chidi said that the people?s votes no longer counted as the electoral umpires had penciled down those they would announce as the winners at the end of the exercise. (NAN)

Update news