The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in Enugu State has praised the peaceful and orderly conduct of Saturday’s local government elections in areas it monitored, describing the process as transparent and credible. Dr. Johnpaul Ani, the state chairman of the NDC, made the assessment after casting his ballot at Unit 002, Amaetiti Town Hall, in Nkanu West Local Government Area. He highlighted that voting in his polling unit and across Nkanu West proceeded without incident, commending the Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) for its role in ensuring a hitch-free exercise.
Ani stated clearly that his personal experience reflected a process marked by peace, transparency, and credibility. “First, my assessment of the process is that the process was peaceful, transparent and credible, the way I voted,” he said. He added, “I want to commend the commission, ENSIEC, for conducting such a hitch-free exercise.” Despite this positive outlook, the NDC chairman raised concerns about alleged access denial faced by some party officials in certain local government areas. These officials were reportedly prevented from reaching council headquarters where election materials were being distributed to wards and polling units.
Among the affected areas mentioned were Aninri, Nkanu East, and Isi-Uzo. The NDC has formally reported these allegations to the relevant authorities and urged ENSIEC to investigate thoroughly. “We are calling on ENSIEC to do more to investigate this situation and then bring the perpetrators of this act to book,” Ani emphasized. He also noted that reports indicated election materials had not reached some polling units in the affected areas as of the time of his statement. However, he confirmed that in Nkanu West, where he voted, materials were successfully delivered to every polling unit.
The NDC deployed agents to all polling units where it fielded candidates, ensuring close monitoring of voting, counting, and result transmission to ward collation centers. Ani expressed confidence in the party’s chances, citing the quality of its candidates who, he said, deeply understand the needs of the electorate. “For us in NDC, we are confident that we will win this election at the end of the day because we have done a campaign. We fielded credible candidates; we fielded people that understand what the masses want,” he declared.
He stressed that the party would await the official results declaration by ENSIEC before taking any further steps. “As it is right now, ENSIEC is leading in some areas. Of course, we can’t win all. But we know where we have fielded candidates that we are confident we will win at the end of the day,” Ani added. Meanwhile, preliminary results showed Chief Sunday Aniachi of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerging victorious in Akpugo Ward 5 as councillor-elect, while the NDC secured wins in several polling units. The outcome underscores the competitive nature of the election and sets the stage for continued political engagement in Enugu State.
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