Why I left my sick bed to vote, septuagenarian
Septuagenarian Fatima Jimoh had a good reason to keep away from yesterday’s election.
She was indisposed and had been confined to bed at home to enable her recuperate. But her love for her kinsman and former Governor Adams Oshiomhole would not allow her.
She felt she owed the APC leader a duty to ensure victory for his party. So, off she went to the Unit 3, Ward 10, Iyhamo Primary School polling booth to do the needful.
“I am not feeling well. I like Oshiomhole. I came out of illness to vote,” she said.
She was assisted to the pooling booth by her daughter.
Travellers stuck as military men mount roadblocks
Hundreds of travellers passing through Edo State yesterday were stuck as military men mounted roadblocks in border areas on account of the off-cycle governorship election.
Efforts by the travellers to convince the security officers at Agbor-Igueben-Uromi yielded no result, leading to a build-up of traffic on the road.
Accredited journalists, including a correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on election duty were also affected.
It, however, took a phone call intervention by Capt. Chinonso Oteh, the Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Army 4 Brigade, Benin, for the journalists to be allowed to proceed.
Oteh reportedly told the security agents that accredited journalists were part of the essential personnel for election duties.
Meanwhile, the commuters, who said they wanted to connect neighbouring states, expressed frustration and disappointment.
“I have been stuck here since 7 a.m. I have an urgent family engagement but the soldiers won’t let us pass,” Mrs Adaora Nwachukwu, travelling from Onitsha to Akure lamented.
Similarly, Mr Femi Oyedele said he thought he could beat the time.
“I thought I could beat the time and the security but unfortunately I am caught up,” he said.
The police had ordered restriction of movement between 6 am and 6 pm because of the election.
Downpour delays arrival of INEC officials in Okaegben
Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) got to their polling booths late as an early downpour disrupted movement in parts of the state.
Voting in such places was delayed for several hours and INEC had to extend accreditation and voting time in such areas.
But the rain did not stop residents from trooping out in their numbers to cast their votes.
At the Eresonye Primary School Ward 12, in Ovia North Local Government Area, near Benin, voters filed out in their numbers not minding the rains.
Some of the voters who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) commended INEC officials for the timely arrival of election materials and the early commencement of accreditation and voting.
At the Oredo Ward 11 polling booth, police personnel at the gate refused journalists entry to monitor the process even after they had presented INEC accreditation tag and official identity card showing they had been cleared to cover the election.
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Similarly, at the Itohan Grammar School Ward on Sakponba Road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, voters were seen in their numbers exercising their electoral responsibilities even with the rain falling heavily.
Police arrest thugs, vote buyers, recover firearms, cash in raids
The Police said their men recorded “a significant breakthrough” in their efforts to curb violence and vote buying during the election with the arrest of some suspected thugs and party supporters.
The two suspected thugs were apprehended in separate incidents, according to Mr.Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Force Headquarters chief spokesman.
He said one of the suspects, believed to be a leader of an armed group, was arrested around 9 am at Oredo Ward 4, while the other, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from Ugbogbo Quarters, Igara Akoko, was arrested in the Igara Akoko area.
He said three cut-to-size locally fabricated pistols and one locally made gun were recovered from them.
“This is a significant breakthrough in our efforts to curb electoral violence,” Adejobi said.
In a follow-up statement, Adejobi said two suspected members of the PDP were arrested at Ufunama community, Ovia South West LGA during synchronized raids on identified black spots.
He said the suspects, connected to a larger network, were apprehended at a guest house in Ekpoma, where a substantial amount of cash and incriminating items were recovered. The items include:
•A list of voters’ names with corresponding monetary values
•A collection of pre-filled ballot papers
•A set of fake identification cards
Six other suspects were all arrested at Aibotse Secondary School, beside Meremu Hotel, Auchi, for allegedly engaging in vote buying. This group was found with:
•A large sum of money
•A cache of weapons
•A detailed plan outlining strategies for voter intimidation
A fake journalist who claimed to be a staff member of one of the leading television stations in Nigeria was also apprehended.