Reports from across Delta State indicate that the election was largely peaceful, despite some challenges with the distribution of voting materials and low voter turnout in certain areas.
At various polling centers visited around Okpanam and Asaba, the turnout of voters was low in the morning hours, with voting materials not arriving at some locations until 10:35 am or later. However, once the materials were in place, the voting process proceeded smoothly and without incident.
At Uzoigwe Primary School, Ward 11 Units 3, 4, 5, and 6 in Asaba, voting materials arrived at 10:35 am. The voting process was peaceful, with security personnel present to maintain order. No violence was reported.
Similarly, at the Cenotaph along High Court Road in Asaba, voting materials arrived at 12:19 pm, and the voting process was peaceful. Security officers were present, but voter turnout remained low.
When revisiting polling centers in Okpanam later in the day, the election process was observed to be going smoothly.
In interviews with voters, one Mrs. Gure expressed satisfaction with the voting process but was discouraged by the low voter turnout. Presiding officer Mrs. Debosa Comfort attributed the late arrival of voting materials to a shortage of ad-hoc staff assigned to collation centers. She also noted that the creation of new polling units was not adequately communicated to voters, leading to confusion as some found their usual polling places had been relocated.
Overall, while the election was peaceful, the low voter turnout and logistical challenges with the distribution of materials highlight the need for continued efforts to engage voters and streamline election processes in Delta State.
