Osbourne Umahi, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate for Ohaozara Local Government Area and son of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has praised the peaceful conduct of the ongoing local government elections in Ebonyi State. After casting his vote at the Onuofukulu polling unit in Umunaga, Uburu, Umahi expressed optimism that the election results would reflect the will of the people.

"I’m satisfied with the conduct of the election so far. I’m happy to see that everything has been peaceful," Umahi stated. He emphasized his hope that the calm atmosphere would persist throughout the electoral process and during the collation of results.

In a show of democratic participation, Valentine Okike-Uzor, the Commissioner for Special Duties, also voted at the Onu Borehole polling unit in Onicha Local Government Area. He highlighted the importance of participating in elections as a constitutional right and urged the future chairman to consider himself a leader for all residents, regardless of political affiliation. "After today, the chairman becomes the chairman of everybody in the local government, not just one political party," Okike-Uzor remarked.

Francis Ori, the Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, echoed similar sentiments after voting at his polling unit, commending the peaceful environment established by Governor Francis Nwifuru and the efforts of the Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC). He noted that the turnout at the polling unit indicated a strong interest in the electoral process among the people.

Senator Anthony Ani, representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, also cast his vote in Onicha Local Government Area. He described the election as a testament to the state’s commitment to democratic principles, assuring that adequate security measures were in place to facilitate a smooth electoral process. "Today’s election shows that we have embraced the principles of democracy," Ani stated.

The senator addressed the ongoing debate regarding the frequency of local government elections in the state, asserting that the quality of governance should take precedence over the duration between elections. He emphasized that the focus should remain on delivering the dividends of democracy to the residents.

Kama Nkemkanma, the member representing Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency, also expressed satisfaction with the voting process after casting his ballot in Ishiagu, Ivo Local Government Area. He observed that the turnout across various polling units demonstrated the community's interest in local governance. "You can see that people are still coming out to vote. That means people are interested in what we’re doing. They are certainly interested in local government," Nkemkanma noted, while expressing confidence in an APC victory and urging candidates to prioritize serving the people.

As the local government elections continue, the commitment of both voters and officials to a peaceful and democratic process remains evident across Ebonyi State.