The governorship election holding in 28 states concurrently with State Houses of Assembly elections in 993 state constituencies across Nigeria, went on peacefully with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) improving on its logistics shortcomings experienced in the February 25, presidential and National Assembly elections. INEC officials were at the duty posts in many centres
The governorship election holding in 28 states concurrently with State Houses of Assembly elections in 993 state constituencies across Nigeria, went on peacefully with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) improving on its logistics shortcomings experienced in the February 25, presidential and National Assembly elections.
INEC officials were at the duty posts in many centres as early as 8:00 am but voters were slow in coming out showing lower enthusiasm than displayed during the presidential election. The popular Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) performed optimally at many voting centres and less time was spent in accrediting voters unlike during the last elections.
It is not impossible that a lower voter turnout may be recorded compared to the previous elections. One reason for the voter apathy could be the importance attached to the governorship election compared to the presidential election. Some are also discouraged to come out because their favoured candidates did not emerge victorious in the last elections.
NDR coverage of the governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections shows that the citizens were generally satisfied with INEC arrangements and especially the early arrival of polling officials at the polling stations. For most of the early hours between 8:00 am and 9:00 am, voters were just walking in, in one and twos but this grew as the day progressed but it unlikely that the overall turnout would match that of the presidential election.
Security was very tight across Oyo state and voters who have relocated to different part of the state who attempted to move very early in the morning were stopped by security agencies from doing so. Obviously, they did not realise that the restriction on movements took effect from 12:00 am. The military, Police and other security agencies were well coordinated and there was the presence of at least a security personnel at every polling unit.
Governor Seyi Makinde came out to vote at some minutes before 11 a, with m his wife accompanying him and he was received by a tumultuous crowd as if he had come for a campaign rally. He was cheered all the way to the polling station.
His main challenger and candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Teslim Folarin voted at the Idi-Ose ward 5 in Ona Ara local government. He was accompanied by a retinue of aides and supporters.
At some centres some voters approached the polling stations with their Temporary Voter Card but were politely refused to participate in the voting process. They were apparently mis directed by a recent judgement where two persons were ordered by the Court to be admitted to vote using their Temporary cards. INEC has, however, since appealed the judgement.
There were allegations of vote buying in a few isolated polling units where the account details of some voters who were being canvassed were being collected. Some of that took place at Hope polling unit at Alakia and at Alarere unit 4 near Olubadan’s house in Ibadan.
As at the time of writing this report, voting has ended and sorting and counting of votes have commenced.
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