A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Ugwumba Uche Nwosu has adduced high cost of transportation as reason for the low turnout of voters in the Imo state governorship poll.

Speaking to reporters in Abuja, he explained that a sizeable number of registered voters in the state based in Lagos , Portharcourt and other part of the country couldn’t make the trip to their respective areas to cast ballots on election day.

“A good number of our voters are actually not based in the state. So you know what it means to fuel their cars to come down home to vote. Times are hard and I believe most of them felt it is not their priority for now. We have no fewer than 40 -50 percent of our voters outside the state,” he said.

He faulted the notions held in certain quarters that the low turnout of voters was as a result of the intimidating activities of the Ebubeagu security outfits in the state adding that those behind such talks were being economical with the truth.

Nevertheless, he said more is still needed to be done on voters education and confidence building in the electoral system to address the problems associated with voters apathy in the polity.

Nwosu who made an unsuccessful bid for the governorship of the state in the 2019 poll on the Action Alliance (AA) platform said the landslide victory posted by Governor Hope Uzodinma should not be seen as a surprising development going by the robust campaigns and his developmental strides in the state.

Calling on members of the opposition to bury their hatchets and work for the socioeconomic development of the state, he disagreed with those who blame Governor Uzodinma for the spate of insecurity in the state in recent times.

He said: “Insecurity is not peculiar to Imo state. It is a nationwide issue. We have insecurity in Sokoto, Zamfara, Benue, Niger states and several parts of the country. Are you saying that the Governor of Sokoto state caused the problem?

“No Governor would deliberately want problem in his state. All we want is peace and it is our responsibility to join hands with the governor to achieve the objective.”

Ruling out the possibility of taking up any appointive seat in the state, he called on Governor Uzodinma to sustain his developmental strides and the ongoing reconciliatory effort with critical stakeholders of the state.