Insight Threats by separatists fail as South-East holds peaceful elections

Threats by separatists in the south-eastern Nigeria failed on Saturday and Sunday as the region held peaceful governorship and house of assembly elections, according to reports. 

Agitators made several threats to the people of the South-East and the Federal Government before the 2023 gubernatorial elections under the guise of the Indigenous people of Biafra (IPOB). However, IPOB has severally openly denounced groups calling for election boycott.

The dissident groups had stated that elections would not occur in the region and threatened to deal with anyone who attempted to flout this rule by voting.

However, elections held in the South-East and winners were eventually produced based on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcements.

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Senator Chimaroke Nnamani lost his reelection bid in Enugu East senatorial district to Labour Party candidate, Kelvin Chukwu.

The LP candidate got 69, 136 votes to beat Nnamani of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who scored 48, 701 votes.

The triumphant senator had replaced his brother, Oyibo Chukwu, who was slain days to the February 25 senatorial election. The INEC eventually moved the election to March 18.

Elections were also held for Anambra State House of Assembly where the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) won 17 seats in the 30- member legislature, with the Labour Party (LP) getting eight. The Young Progressives Party (YPP) won three seats, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got two.

Several media houses had predicted that the 2023 elections in the South-East would be marred by violence.  

But the skirmishes and killings witnessed took place in Ebonyi and Imo states.

Only three of the five states in the South-East region held gubernatorial elections for governorship hopefuls in 2023. These are Ebonyi, Abia and Enugu states.

House of assembly elections were held in all the five states of the region.

“The election has been largely peaceful in the region except in Ebonyi where there were reported cases of murder,” said an Anambra State businessman, Chibuike Nnoli.

INEC officials at Uruokwe ward 1, Njikoka, Anambra central, Anambra waiting for electorates to arrive. (Source: CJID Elections)

A resident of Abakiliki, Samuel Edem, said thugs attacked his polling station and carted away electoral materials.

Low voter participation at the polls was also reported. Electoral officers expressed dissatisfaction with the poor voter turnout in the elections. Additionally, there were complaints of BVAS issues in some locations, including a polling location at Amakohia in Owerri North, Imo state, as well as Umukabia Central School in Umuahia North, Abia State, and Orlu Road Primary School.