Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security services for conducting the state’s off-cycle governorship election.
Uzodinma spoke with media after voting in his polling unit in Imo state’s Oru east LGA.
“The conduct is very impressive. I want to also commend INEC. I want to also commend the security agencies on the kind of deployment they have done and how orderly the environment has become contrary to the ugly expectation that the environment will not be there for voting to take place,” he said.
“INEC has risen to the occasion, and everything seems to be going well.”
Speaking on low turnout of voters, the Imo governor said he is optimistic that more people will come out to cast their votes.
“It is not over yet. I just came to vote, and other people will still come to vote. But what I have seen here compared to what happened here last time is very impressive and it is our hope that more people will come,” Uzodinma added.
“My happiness is that we have the environment to conduct this election and people have come to exercise their franchise and voting is going on.
“I think INEC has done well and we must commend them.
“The security agencies have properly deployed. The entire space is manned and occupied and people are responding positively and behaving themselves, so I think Imo state is good.
“I want the whole world to now see that there is peace here and the election, contrary to that ugly expectation, is going on free, fair and very credible.”