Nollywood actress Rita Edochie has commended the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) for the orderly conduct of the 2026 local government elections.
Edochie, who spoke to Voice of Nigeria (VON) after casting her ballot at her polling unit in Onitsha, said she was impressed by the turnout, noting that she was concerned about voter apathy.
She said the participation demonstrated the willingness of citizens to exercise their civic responsibility and take part in the democratic process by choosing their preferred grassroots leaders.
The actress was among several prominent figures who cast their votes at polling units across Onitsha South and Onitsha North Local Government Areas.
Others included the Anambra State Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Development, Patrick Aghamba; the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) mayoral candidate for Onitsha South Local Government Area, Peter Ezeoba; and the councillor representing Odoakpu Ward One, Franklin Oyeke.
The stakeholders commended ANSIEC for what they described as the timely and orderly deployment of electoral materials and personnel.
In a related development, the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr Law Mefor, described the election in Abatete, Idemili North Local Government Area, as successful, free and fair.
Mefor spoke shortly after casting his ballot at the Abatete Civic Centre, Eke Abatete, which he said was serving as the collation centre following the consolidation of polling activities in the community.
He explained that he normally votes at Nkwo Abatete but cast his ballot at the civic centre because the polling units had been collapsed into a central location for the exercise.
The commissioner expressed satisfaction with the turnout of voters and commended ANSIEC for distributing sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials, as well as deploying personnel across the council area.
He said the electoral process would culminate in the declaration of candidates who meet the legal requirement for affirmation, adding that the applicable electoral provisions require a candidate to secure two-thirds of the affirmative votes before being declared elected.
The 2026 Anambra State local government election was conducted across the state’s 21 local government areas.
