Voters in Akwa Ibom Express Frustration Over Delayed Start of Local Government Elections
UYO – Voters across Akwa Ibom State experienced delays in the commencement of Saturday’s local government elections, with no officials or materials from the Akwa Ibom State Independent Electoral Commission (AKISIEC) in sight as of 10:21 a.m.
A Vanguard report from polling units in Uyo and Itu Local Government Areas (LGAs) revealed that AKISIEC officials had yet to arrive, causing concern among voters eager to participate in electing new chairmen and councillors for the state’s 31 LGAs.
At Unit 2, Ward 11, Ibiaku in Itu LGA, Pastor Gideon Edidem, one of the voters present, expressed his disappointment. “It’s 10:05 a.m., and we’re still waiting for AKISIEC officials and materials. We’ve been assured they will come. We just need to be patient, but no one should be surprised. AKISIEC isn’t INEC; they’re not as effective.”
A similar situation was observed at Uyo Ward 14, Unit 1, where no election materials or officials had arrived by 10:21 a.m. The same was reported at Community Secondary Commercial School, Ibiaku Itam in Itu LGA, Unit 7, Ward 11, where voters continued to wait.