The Local Government elections in Anambra State on Saturday were more of a quiet affair than a vibrant display of democracy. Across Awka North and Awka South Local Government Areas, especially, the story was the same: empty polling units and a noticeable absence of voters, even though voting materials reportedly arrived on time.

You might not have seen many ballot papers being cast because, in a rather dramatic display of political apathy or strategy, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) was the only party that fielded candidates in 20 out of the 21 Local Government Areas. The only slight competition came in Anambra East LG, where the Young Progressives Party (YPP) managed to put forward a candidate. For everyone else, it was a walk in the park, or rather, a walk to no contest.

Officials from the Anambra State Independent Electoral Commission (ANSIEC) were present, and security personnel were deployed to strategic locations. Yet, by 9 am, the scene at many polling centres was more about the officials waiting for voters, rather than the other way around. It's almost as if the election was happening, but you had to be really looking for it.

This lack of enthusiasm wasn't just a feeling; it was a reality. Even though there were no restrictions on movement, meaning folks could go about their usual Saturday business, many chose to do just that. Cars were seen moving freely, and commercial activities continued as normal in parts of the state capital. It makes you wonder what the point of the election was if the people it's supposed to serve weren't interested in participating.

In Amawbia community within Awka South, for instance, three wards were consolidated into one central voting centre at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church. A similar setup saw voters from Okpuno ward-19 and Agu Awka ward-01 converging at the Nodu Town hall. While this might have been an efficiency measure by ANSIEC, it didn't seem to translate into more voters showing up.

Mrs. Wilfred Aghanya, one of the few voters who showed up, confirmed that the ANSIEC officials were punctual. "They arrived on time," she said, but quickly added the crucial detail: "However, voter turnout remained low in most of the wards monitored."

Anambra State Commissioner of Police, CP Nnanna Ama, stated that his men were out to ensure residents could exercise their civic duties without fear. He personally led patrols across the state, checking on polling units and security arrangements, from the Onitsha Expressway to the Otuocha axis and other key areas. The goal, he said, was a peaceful and orderly election. The NSCDC Commandant, Olatunde Maku, echoed similar sentiments, noting that the exercise had been peaceful so far.

But the peace seemed to come at the cost of engagement. In Onitsha South Local Government Area, voting kicked off at polling units like Modebe Primary School and Central School, Odoakpu. Again, the story was low turnout. Voters who did cast their ballots described the process as peaceful, and commended ANSIEC for its punctuality, with voting starting as early as 9 am.

The election had concluded by the time of reporting, with results set to be collated and announced at the ANSIEC office in Awka. ANSIEC Commissioner for Information and Publicity, Tony Nnalue, had announced that across the 21 LGAs and 326 wards, 346 councillorship and 22 chairmanship candidates were screened. Even unopposed candidates would still need a "Yes or No" vote from the electorate, a nod to the democratic process even when participation seemed optional.

The YPP, however, is claiming they boycotted the Anambra LG poll over alleged violence and irregularities. This contradicts the general report of a peaceful election from the police and NSCDC. It suggests that even in an election with virtually no opposition, controversies are still brewing.