Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has absolved the Independent National Electoral Commission of blame on any possible failure of the Governorship and State Assembly polls.
Umahi made the remark shortly after casting his votes at his Onuofukwuru polling unit in his Egugwu-Umunaga Uburu home, Ohaozara Local Government Area in company of his wife, Rachael.
Umahi, who is also the Chairman, South East Governors Forum, noted that any failure should be blamed on desperate politicians who want to ascend to power against the will of the people.
He condemned the reported attack on INEC registration Area Centre in Ezza North Local Government Area in the early hours of the day, adding that such trend was not healthy for the country’s democracy.
Umahi said: “I speak as the Governor of Ebonyi State and the Chairman of South East Governors Forum.
“I want to commend the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.
“I can say he has very good intention for our country.
“I can also say I am very satisfied with the entire process he has put in place.
“If there are failures any where, it is not the problem of INEC but those of desperate politicians that want to impose themselves against the will of the people.
“And this is very dangerous for our nation when people want to use guns to impose themselves on the people.
“That is an indication that such leaders will not do anything for the people if they ascend.
“The consequence is a lot of youths everywhere that are doing nothing but given to cultism and armed robbery.
“That is not good for our country.”
Meanwhile, some of the voters interviewed expressed happiness over what they described as improvements in the INEC logistics and processes, over what obtained in the past.
Chief Offor Okorie, Onyeabor Ngene, Elder Moses Anasi, Osondu Okoronkwo Patricia Anasi and Ogbonnaya Onu, who spoke to The Eagle Online said the election was generally peaceful in their areas.
They condemned violence in all its ramifications and called on politicians to always play by the rules in order to guarantee the future of the country.
Okorie added: “I consider it as foolishness for anyone to destroy public facilities and cause mayhem in the name of elections.
“Such a person is shortchanging the future of his community and the nation in general and should be discouraged.”
There were reported cases of violence in some parts of Ezza South and Afikpo North local government areas, the home of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Sonny Ogbuji.
In some of the polling units visited, including Ezi-Edda Town Hall and AmaUkabi, there were violent struggles, leading to snatching of electoral materials as journalists, observers and the electorate scampered for safety.
An electorate, Onuoha Nnachi, who managed to speak to journalists, lamented that one of the polling units has more than 3,000 willing voters.
Nnachi condemned the development, which he alleged was perpetrated by the thugs of the APC governorship candidate.