Late arrival of electoral materials and general apathy characterised November 2, Local Government Election across Abia State.
Election commenced around 11am in most Local Government Areas to the disappointment of some voters who turned up at 8am. Though some businesses were closed, a lot of Abians stayed away from the polling units while youths were seen playing football on the street.
The Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) had previously announced the election date and timetable on September 21, 2024, at its headquarters in Umuahia during a stakeholders’ meeting with representatives from 18 political parties.
To facilitate a smooth election process, the Abia State Government announced on Friday a restriction on the movement of people and vehicles throughout the election period.
Around 18 political parties are participating in the election, with the exception of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the ruling party at the national level, which withdrew from the race.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) also boycotted the election.
State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, announced that the movement restriction began at midnight on Friday and will remain in effect until 4:00 pm on Saturday. Only those performing essential services will be permitted to move, provided they present valid ID.
The State Government urged all Abians, including market vendors, motor park operators, and other businesses, to comply with this restriction, warning that violators will face consequences as security forces are fully prepared to enforce the order.
Some political parties in the state signed a peace accord with the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission in the presence of local service chiefs, signaling their commitment to uphold peace and order before, during, and after the election.
Professor George Chima, the chairman of the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC), had emphasized the commission’s commitment to facilitating a free, fair, and credible local government election scheduled for Saturday, November 2, 2024, reassuring voters of the integrity of the electoral process
