Adejoke Adeleye, Abeokuta

Despite fears of violence, electorates across the three Senatorial districts of Ogun State still trooped out en-masse to cast votes for their respective candidates in  governorship and House of Assembly’s election held on Saturday.

In some of the polling units monitored, PMNEWS/THENEWS observed early arrival of materials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while accreditation and voting commenced immediately.

For example, at Ward 14, Polling Units 13, 14 and 29, Moslem Primary School, Ijebu-Igbo, the process started a little late as materials and INEC personnel came in later than the 8 o’clock expected time.

The Presiding Officer at unit 13, Yusuf Shakirat, however, blamed the delay on transportation challenges.

Also, some politicians who spoke with our correspondent commended INEC for stepping up actions towards ensuring free and fair conduct of the election as well as the security agencies for living up to expectations.

Hon. Remmy Hassan, spokesperson of the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), Dapo Abiodun confirmed that election materials arrived most of the polling centers in Odogbolu earlier than the expected time and before electorates’ arrival.

Hassan said, “Part of what we did as a party is to ensure that our people come out to vote from all the nudes and cranny of the community before the window of voting closes by 2pm.”

The governor of the state, Ibikunle Amosun, APC governorship candidate, Abiodun, his counterpart in the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Buruji Kashamu as well as the former governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, gave kudos to INEC on the credibility of the election and security matters.

Abiodun, who voted at exactly 12: 20p.m in his comment said: “I feel very great after the whole exercise. I haven’t seen the situation of things in other polling units but I am satisfied with the process at this polling unit,” he said.

“My advice is that the process should be democratic. They should not try to rig the election. We should respect our democracy and people should not create or engage in violence, ” he said

Speaking with newsmen at his own poling unit, former Governor Daniel urged governorship candidates in the state to accept whatever the outcome of the election is in good faith. 

In his own comment, Amosun called on INEC  to reduces the number of political parties in the country from 96 to at least six political parties instead of 96 we have now.

 Amosun, who cast his votes at Ward 06, Polling Unit 08 Ita-Gbangba, Itoko area of Abeokuta metropolis however, commended INEC for improvement in the conduct of the poll, compared to the conduct of the last election, stressing that time wasted was reduced.

” I have been here for about 45minutes and today was faster”

He explained that there is still a lot more room for improvement to make INEC better for the election exercise in Nigeria.

“The reason may be because they have more than 60 Political Parties which takes a lot of effort on the part of INEC  and that is what the empire should to look into”.

“When you look at the ballot papers, imagine seeing 60 Political Parties and I believe with just 5 party the effort reduce. As am going back to Senate now, am going to canvases this to be reduced to 6 based on our 6 geopolitical zones”.

Former president Olusegun Obasanjo  who arrived his polling center at exactly 10 a.m, but voted at Ward 11, Polling 22, Olusomi Compound, Sokori however, ignored all entreaties from newsmen to comment on the conduct of the exercise.

Obasanjo walked through the rocky crannies leading to Olusomi Compound and refused to acknowledge the presence of any person despite repeated shouts of ” Ebora Owu; baba ti o mo enikeni; baba oosa” by youths singing his praise.

The former President went straight to the INEC officials and was attended to by the Presiding Officer, Aron Emmanuel.

He finished casting his votes at about 10.00 a.m and went back throughout the crannies to Sokori road.

Efforts made by journalist to talk to him proved abortive as he was later driven away in a black Lexus.