Anambra Youths Choose Football Over Voting While Traders Resume Business And Polling Units Record Low Turnout

 

The governorship election in Anambra State unfolded on a quiet yet active note as some residents of the state capital, Awka, chose to combine civic responsibility with elements of normal daily life. Across various neighbourhoods, people displayed a striking balance between political participation and routine activity, reflecting both calm and cautious optimism about the day’s proceedings.

Early morning hours found several small markets already open, trading in food items and household essentials. At street corners, groups of men were spotted playing football, chatting freely, and occasionally glancing toward the roads where a few campaign vehicles passed by. Their actions created a scene that contrasted sharply with the intense tension that often marks election mornings in other parts of the country.

While some went about their usual Saturday routines, others prepared to participate in the voting process. At Okpuno and Mgbakwu, two communities located on the outskirts of Awka, voters were seen slowly arriving at polling centres for accreditation. The turnout at that hour remained thin, yet the steady trickle of citizens signalled a growing awareness and willingness to engage as the morning progressed.

Efforts to mobilise more residents were visible. At Uruotulu in Awka, a mobile town crier could be heard driving through the streets, using a public address system to rally potential voters. His message echoed through narrow roads and open spaces, calling out repeatedly, “Come out and vote, wherever you are.” His passionate voice became a familiar sound as shop owners, motorcyclists, and passersby acknowledged his effort with nods and brief smiles.

By 8:54 a.m., some polling units had yet to commence voting. At Polling Units 004 and 005, situated within Umuobi Village Hall in Awkuzu, lines had already formed but electoral officials were still making final arrangements for the exercise. Voters appeared patient, standing in groups, discussing both politics and personal matters as they awaited the start of accreditation.

Security presence around the area was noticeable but not intimidating. Uniformed personnel maintained a visible yet composed posture, observing proceedings and occasionally engaging with voters to ensure calm. One officer at the venue assured that everything was under control, describing the situation as peaceful with no sign of threat or disruption. His tone carried confidence, suggesting that the day might progress smoothly if the current atmosphere persisted.

Beyond the polling area, business activities were beginning to gather pace. Provision shops opened their doors, selling drinks, snacks, and other necessities to voters who had left their homes early. Street food vendors found a busy morning awaiting them. Smoke from local grills and the aroma of fried snacks filled the air around Umuobi Village Hall, blending the scent of commerce with the hum of democracy.

Justina Oyibo, one of the food sellers near the polling unit, explained that she decided to resume her trade early knowing that voters would need food while waiting for their turn to cast their ballots. “People cannot stay here from morning till afternoon without eating,” she said, arranging plates of jollof rice and fried plantain on her stand. “I came to work and also to support the process by feeding those who came to vote.”

Another vendor, Grace Igwebuike, shared a similar sentiment. She pointed out that many voters had left their homes in haste, driven by the need to arrive before accreditation started. “Most people didn’t eat before leaving home,” she said, smiling as she handed a bottle of water to a young voter. “So, as they finish voting, they can at least eat something.”

The combination of civic engagement and regular commerce painted a layered portrait of election day in Anambra’s capital and its environs. It was not a scene dominated by tension or conflict but one marked by a quiet blend of normalcy and duty. The mood among voters and observers alike suggested a deepening maturity in the state’s democratic culture, where political participation coexists with the ordinary rhythms of everyday life.

As the morning wore on, expectations rose that more voters would arrive at polling units across the city and surrounding towns. For now, Awka stood calm yet alive, its people showing that democracy, even in its most routine form, can thrive alongside the hum of local business and the laughter of men at play.