GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of All progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, appears to be coasting to victory going by early results from poling units across the state.
Results from the poling units were compiled and announced in the presence of the agents in most of the units and in almost all the places visited by Sunday Vanguard, Obiano’s APGA was leading.
Sorting and collation of the final result from the 21 local government areas have already begun and would subsequently be delivered at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Awka where the winner would be announced by the governorship returning officer.
Voting in the election began early in most polling units across the state and except for a minor incident recorded at Usugbe, the home town of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr. Tony Nwoye where a man disrupted voting and was arrested by the police.
There was heavy voter turnout in poling centers located in the rural areas and low turnout in the urban centers, apparently because most people traveled to the hinterland to cast their votes.
Despite the call by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, for people to boycott the election, there was impressive turnout and there was no fear of any kind as the security operatives attached to the poling units and those conducting stop and search behaved in a civilized manner.
Some people who intially entertained fears about the election later went out to vote.
The incumbent governor, Chief Willie Obiano voted at about 9.27am, while the candidate of APC, Nwoye voted at about 1.pm. Mr. Oseloka Obaze of PDP voted few minutes to 2pm.
Addressing reporters after casting his vote, Obiano commended INEC and security agencies for ensuring that the exercise went on smoothly.
Obaze of PDP, who also spoke after casting his vote said although there were reports of apathy in many places, INEC should be commended for conducting a peaceful exercise.
Most people waited patiently after voting until the votes were counted and in many places, the results pasted on the walls.
Unlike situations in the past, there were no incidents of ballot box snatching or firing of guns anywhere.
Places where APGA performed beyond expectation were the stronghold of chieftains of other political parties.
