PDP, APC chieftains blame fear of Obi movement for low voter turnout in Edo

Some APC and PDP chieftains in Edo on Saturday alleged that the low turnout of voters for the governorship and state assembly elections was caused by fear and the unruly behaviour of some Obi Movement members.

The poor turnout was recorded on Saturday at most polling units in the Southern District of Edo during the elections.

The chieftains told journalists that the low turnout was also caused by the alleged bandwagon effect and loss of interest from the outcome of presidential/NASS elections.

Lawrence Okah, the APC state secretary, said the exercise was tense because it did not include the governorship election.

Mr Okah said the low turnout was not good for democracy, especially when it involved grassroots (state lawmakers) governance.

He, however, said the electorate who exercised their franchise was the real politicians.

Agharase Idubor, PDP chieftain at Oluwa Primary School in Egor Local Government Area, said the low turnout resulted from disappointment with the presidential/NASS elections.

He said those who came out en masse in the last elections felt their votes did not count during the presidential/NASS elections.

He alleged that the low turnout was due to a purported threat/ fear from some quarters.

Dumezi Ugiagbe (APC), the House of Assembly candidate, Ovia North East constituency, described the electoral process as seamless except for the voters’ apathy.

He, however, said some voters came out in his favour to give him sympathy votes, having been denied representation of his constituency in the last assembly.

Arhoba Nelson, a PDP leader in Oredo, said voters did not turn out because of threats to life, and they also believed that their votes did not count in the previous polls.

He, however, commended INEC for the early dispatch of electoral materials and prompt accreditation and voting.

Many felt that since Peter Obi failed to win the presidential election, his supporters felt disappointed, and that reduced their interest; hence they refused to come out to exercise their franchise.

(NAN)