Imo Election: Election Observers Report Low Voters Turnout, Poor Security Presence In Imo

The Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room has released a report on the governorship polls in Imo, Bayelsa, and Kogi, suggesting that the election in Imo is marred by low voter turnout.

Naija News reports that in a statement released on the heels of the ongoing governorship election, the CSO detailed that the opening of polls was delayed in many polling units across Imo State.

The report further revealed that observers revealed that while voters turned out en masse and early to polling both in Kogi and Bayelsa, there was low voter turnout in Imo at the commencement of the election.

“Situation Room observers reported that voters came out early in polling units visited in Kogi and Bayelsa States, while in Imo State, there appears to be low turnout at the commencement of poll,” a statement by Situation Room read.

The report further detailed that while there was an impressive security presence at the Kogi and Bayelsa elections, the security presence in Imo State was below average at the polling units visited.

“Generally, there appears to be a good presence of security agents in polling units visited in Kogi and Bayelsa State as observers sighted security personnel in 92 percent of the polling units visited in Kogi State and 86 per cent of polling units in Bayelsa State. In Imo State, security personnel were sighted in 47 per cent of the polling units visited,” the report added.

Political analysts have earlier expressed worries that the fear of the sit-at-home order issued by a leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, ahead of the poll might result in low voter turnout and apathy at the Imo governorship election.