Gov Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for a peaceful conduct of the governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the country.
Chime made the commendation in his country home in Udi on Saturday while speaking to journalists shortly after he cast his vote.
According to him, “I am impressed with the process. You know that with time, people improve in what they do.
“I urge the people to be steadfast and vote candidates of their choice.
“I will always remain in the PDP. The APC won at the national level and we will respect the will of the people,’’ the governor said.
While casting his vote at Ozzi Ward 7, the member representing Enugu North Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly, Chief Ayogu Eze, said the election was peaceful in the zone.
He attributed the peaceful conduct of the elections to the concession of defeat by President Goodluck Jonathan at the March 28 Presidential election.
Eze commended his constituents for coming out en masse to vote in spite of the rainfall.
The Special Adviser to the President on New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), Mrs Fidelia Njeze, expressed delight at the large turnout of voters in her ward in spite of the rains.
“I am impressed with the turnout in my ward at Abor in Udi Local Government Area. They have shown that they are really eager to vote for candidates of their choice,’’ she said.
Meanwhile, at Itchi ward 1, in Igboeze South Local Government Area, the home country of the All Progressive Congress governorship candidate, Chief Okey Ezeah, accreditation process was disrupted for hours following indiscriminate shooting by suspected thugs.
The presiding officer at the center who pleaded anonymity told the News Agency of Nigeria that they had ran out of time because of the incident.
It said that voters ran helter skelter as the fracas left some people injured.
Voting, however, commenced between 1 p.m. and 1.30 p.m. in most parts of the state as people defied the rains to vote.
At Nsukka, the traditional ruler of Aji Community in Igboeze North Local Government Area commended INEC for a job well done but regretted that the card reader needed to be improved in future elections.
In Enugu metropolis, many people came out en masse to cast their votes for their choice candidates unlike during the accreditation exercise.
Some of the voters told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said they decided to go for accreditation toward the end of the exercise so that they would not wait for long to cast their votes.