Late Accreditation Trails Imo Election Amidst Sit-at-Home Order
The Imo State gubernatorial election has encountered a slow start today, November 11, 2023, as late accreditation processes plagued polling stations across the state.
Our correspondent at Ezibodo and Ihieagwa in Owerri West metropolitan reported that as of 8:35 AM, the scheduled start time for voting according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), officials were still setting up cubicles, and election materials were arriving.
At Salvation Ministry Junction, Umuayo, in Eziobodo, and Oruala Junction Eziobodo, accreditation had not commenced at the time of filing this report.
The situation appeared to be exacerbated by a prevailing sit-at-home order issued by Finland-based Simon Ekpa.
“People seem not to be interested in voting; roads are empty, and the officials are just arriving,” he reported.
Recall that we reported that a dusk-to-dawn sit-at-home order is threatening the participation of Imo electorate in the crucial gubernatorial election. Although out of the 2.4 million registered voters in Imo State, 2.21 million people collected their Permanent Voters Cards and are eligible to vote today. However, it remains unclear if they will defy the order and turn out en masse to cast their votes.
