Traders were driven out from Orie Ugba, Umuahia’s main market, by a joint enforcement team on Saturday morning for flouting state government 's directive on restrictions on movement.
When our correspondent arrived at the market around 10:30 am, market and community leaders on the enforcement team were observed directing shop owners to shut their businesses.
Some of the traders, who had traveled from various parts of the state, ignored the Abia State government’s order limiting the movement of people and vehicles during election hours.
Other traders who had set up their goods on the ground were also seen running from the market to evade arrest or fines.
Uche, One of the traders, expressed that his disappointment with the outcome of the 2023 Presidential election had discouraged him from taking part in future elections in the country.
Additionally, along Okigwe Road and Uzuakoli Road near the railway in Umuahia, some youths were observed playing football, disregarding the Abia State government’s directive.
Furthermore, at the intersection of Okigwe Road and Uzuakoli Road by the railway in Umuahia, some youths were spotted playing football, showing disrespect for the Abia State government’s directive.
While local elections in different areas of the state were mostly peaceful, there were reports of material delivery delays and claims of missing result sheets at some polling units in Ohafia and Ukwa West LGA.
Also, Governor Alex Otti voted at Polling Unit 017 in Ahiafor Umuehim Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA, at 12:19 pm.
After casting his vote, the governor expressed to journalists his satisfaction with how smoothly the exercise was proceeding.
Otti stated, “Reports indicated that the election was proceeding smoothly and peacefully across all 4,062 polling units in the state, with only a few incidents in Ohafia and Obingwa Local Government Areas, which were quickly addressed by security personnel.”
