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By Tracy Moses
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accompanied by Youth Corps members, arrived early Saturday morning at several polling stations in Nodu, Okpuno, under the Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, for the ongoing election exercise.
By 8:00 a.m., INEC personnel had arrived at the Nodu Village Hall, which accommodates Polling Units 009, 010, 023, 024, 025, 027, and 028. Election materials were already on site, and preparations for the day’s voting were actively underway. Voter registers were also displayed promptly to enable electorates verify their names ahead of accreditation and voting.
Community members assisted in providing chairs for voters and security operatives to ensure comfort and a seamless start to the exercise. The atmosphere around the area was calm and orderly, with security personnel maintaining visible patrols to keep the process peaceful.
However, despite the restriction of movement announced by the Inspector-General of Police, commercial activities continued in some parts of Awka South, especially around the Nodu Village Hall area. Shops were open for business, and tricycle operators were seen conveying passengers freely.
At Umuobi Village Hall in Awkuzu, as of 8:54 a.m., voting had yet to begin at Polling Units 004 and 005. A sizeable number of voters were already in queues, patiently waiting for INEC officials to complete their setup. Security operatives were on ground, ensuring order and safety.
One of the officers at the venue confirmed that “everything is in order” and there was “no security concern at the moment.”
Meanwhile, business activities slowly resumed around the polling points, with local traders and food vendors serving voters.
A food vendor, Mrs. Justina Oyibo, said she came out to make sales to cater for voters’ needs during the exercise. Another vendor, Mrs. Grace Igwebuike, noted that many people had left home early without eating, adding that, “as they vote, they can grab something to eat and stay energized.”
Across polling units visited in Awka South, the environment remained largely peaceful, with electoral officials and security agencies coordinating efforts to ensure a smooth and credible process.