The governorship and State House of Assembly election in Ebonyi State has witnessed a low turnout of voters as hundreds of eligible voters did not come out to vote following heavy shooting witnessed in some parts of the state early this morning.

The heavy shooting which was witnessed within the Abakaliki metropolis, parts of Izzi, Ikwo, Ezza North, Ohaozara, Onicha caused panic in the state.

Some of the residents who spoke to LEADERSHIP in Abakaliki said that in the early hours of today, there was heavy shooting within the town and most of the electorate are afraid to come out to vote for fear of being attacked by political thugs of the major political parties in the state.

At about 8. 30am when our correspondent visited station Urban Secondary School Abakaliki, Ebonyi local government area of the state, out of 989 registered voters, only 15 persons were on the queue for accreditation.

At Community Primary School Echi-Alike, polling booth 007 in Ikwo local government area, at about 09. 10am, out of 894 registered voters, only 90 persons came out for accreditation.

Meanwhile, there is heavy presence of security personnel deployed to the suspected trouble areas in the state.