Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Soldiers on Saturday barred journalists from moving around to monitor the the Ebonyi bye-lection in Ebonyi South Senatorial zone.
Twice a military convoy stopped journalists and refused them passage for more than 40 minutes each.
As a result, the Journalist who left early from Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital could not cover the Minister of Works, David Umahi, while casting his vote at his Umunaga polling unit in Ohaozara Local Government Area.
The two incidents happened along the Uburu-Abaomege highway in the Uburu, Ohaozara LGA.
True to forecasts, turnout of voters has been relatively very low in today’s bye – election despite INEC officials arriving early with electoral materials.
At Obiozara New Market polling unit, only 69 voters had cast their vote at 12 noon out of over 900 registered voters.
Some of the respondents, told our reporter that security intimidation was partly responsible for the low turnout.
At Ishieke vllage square polling unit 004 only 108 voters had cast their votes out of 770 registered voters at 12:24 pm.
The polling unit is where the Peoples Democratic (PDP) candidate, Silas Onu, is registered to vote.
At nearby Umuobasi ward 1, only 69 voters had turned out to vote out of 422 registered voters.
Residents of the area said they were put off by shady dealings of All Progressives Congress agents and party leaders who allegedly stormed the area with security agents to coerce voters to thumbprint for the party.
They alleged that a top APC member who hails from the local government area visited the polling unit and was seen openly sharing money to voters.
It was gathered that there was shooting at some parts of Onicha Local Government Area forcing residents to stay indoors instead of coming out to cast their votes.