The election was adjudged to be peaceful by stakeholders in many areas of the state, but accreditation of voters and actual voting were delayed in some parts of the state.
As we reported on Saturday, the contest is between incumbent Governor Idris Wada, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and ex-governor of the state, Abubakar Audu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reports from several parts of the state indicated that
turnout of voters was impressive and peaceful. The election was also characterised by good deployment of security operatives from the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army and Nigerian Navy, who mounted roadblocks to prevent break down of law and order. Civil Defence and Road Safety also assisted.
Wada, who expressed shock over the card reader issues even in his ward, ward 001, Odu-Ogboyaga, Dekina LGA, said he was sad and disappointed by the challenge.
He also said he had reports of fake soldiers, policemen and some other security agencies who, he alleged, intimidated voters.
Halima, Wada’s wife, fails electronic capturing
Wada, whose wife’s (Halima) details could not be electronically captured during the accreditation, said it was worrisome that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, later resorted to manual accreditation, though Halima’s name was on the voter register.
A visibly angry Wada, after his accreditation, said he was shocked that in spite of assurances from INEC of credible election, there were reports of some alleged electoral malpractices.
He also alleged that soldiers beat up some people in some areas of the state, adding that he would report the alleged malpractices to the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner.
An unnamed presiding officer in Wada’s ward confirmed that there were logistics problems. He added that the card reader malfunctioned when some voters came for accreditation. Incident register was used.
Wada arrived at the accreditation centre around 11.20am and finished accreditation about 15 minutes later. The accreditation was extended at Wada’s ward till about 3.30pm, when the governor came and urged the INEC officials to start the process of voting.
Wada, who was visibly upset that voting did not also start on time, cautioned INEC officials against delaying the commencement of voting deliberately.
He said, “Why are you (INEC officials) signing the ballot papers now? Since after accreditation, I have been waiting, waiting in my house. What is going on? Honestly, it is bad.
“At my level you can't treat me like this. Sign it! I will not accept it! You should have organised yourselves and you are slowing down the process. This is a deliberate attempt.”
In an interview with journalists after casting his vote around 3.45pm, Wada said though there was appreciable turnout of voters, the malfunctioning of card readers and the alleged presence of fake security operatives were worrisome, making the process appear to him as not very free and fair.
Wada said, “I think this is a deliberate attempt to frustrate all these people that have come to exercise their civic responsibility. I am not happy about this.”
The governor added, “State wide, I am hearing report of ballot box snatching in some local government areas such as Okota and Iyanu ward; snatching of ballot boxed and stuffing them with thump-printed ballot papers.
“These are going to be documented and pursued with INEC because after all the voter education, it will really be sad for our country when such things are allowed to happen. It should be a free, fair competition. I do not know why people are doing this. We will pursue it with INEC at the right time."
Meanwile, the APC Governorship candidate Prince Abubakar Audu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
Audu who spoke with journalist shortly after voting at unit 010 Ogbonicha in Ofu LGA of the state said apart from some cases of destruction of electoral materials in Eti-Aja and Ojetachi streets in Ayangba, the election was relatively peaceful.
The APC candidate had earlier arrived for accreditation at exactly 12.18 and was accredited without any hitch and returned at 13.40 for the voting proper.
Wada, who expressed shock over the card reader issues even in his ward, ward 001, Odu-Ogboyaga, Dekina LGA, said he was sad and disappointed by the challenge.
He also said he had reports of fake soldiers, policemen and some other security agencies who, he alleged, intimidated voters.
Halima, Wada’s wife, fails electronic capturing
Wada, whose wife’s (Halima) details could not be electronically captured during the accreditation, said it was worrisome that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, later resorted to manual accreditation, though Halima’s name was on the voter register.
A visibly angry Wada, after his accreditation, said he was shocked that in spite of assurances from INEC of credible election, there were reports of some alleged electoral malpractices.
He also alleged that soldiers beat up some people in some areas of the state, adding that he would report the alleged malpractices to the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner.
An unnamed presiding officer in Wada’s ward confirmed that there were logistics problems. He added that the card reader malfunctioned when some voters came for accreditation. Incident register was used.
Wada arrived at the accreditation centre around 11.20am and finished accreditation about 15 minutes later. The accreditation was extended at Wada’s ward till about 3.30pm, when the governor came and urged the INEC officials to start the process of voting.
Wada, who was visibly upset that voting did not also start on time, cautioned INEC officials against delaying the commencement of voting deliberately.
He said, “Why are you (INEC officials) signing the ballot papers now? Since after accreditation, I have been waiting, waiting in my house. What is going on? Honestly, it is bad.
“At my level you can't treat me like this. Sign it! I will not accept it! You should have organised yourselves and you are slowing down the process. This is a deliberate attempt.”
In an interview with journalists after casting his vote around 3.45pm, Wada said though there was appreciable turnout of voters, the malfunctioning of card readers and the alleged presence of fake security operatives were worrisome, making the process appear to him as not very free and fair.
Wada said, “I think this is a deliberate attempt to frustrate all these people that have come to exercise their civic responsibility. I am not happy about this.”
The governor added, “State wide, I am hearing report of ballot box snatching in some local government areas such as Okota and Iyanu ward; snatching of ballot boxed and stuffing them with thump-printed ballot papers.
“These are going to be documented and pursued with INEC because after all the voter education, it will really be sad for our country when such things are allowed to happen. It should be a free, fair competition. I do not know why people are doing this. We will pursue it with INEC at the right time."
Meanwile, the APC Governorship candidate Prince Abubakar Audu expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
Audu who spoke with journalist shortly after voting at unit 010 Ogbonicha in Ofu LGA of the state said apart from some cases of destruction of electoral materials in Eti-Aja and Ojetachi streets in Ayangba, the election was relatively peaceful.
The APC candidate had earlier arrived for accreditation at exactly 12.18 and was accredited without any hitch and returned at 13.40 for the voting proper.
Audu leading the votes
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