Category: Nigeria Decides 2023

Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has expressed satisfaction with the peaceful conduct of the presidential and the National Assembly election.

Abiodun, who voted at ward 3, unit 2, Osanyin, Iperu in Ikenne Local Government Area, said the process went well despite little hitches, describing the turnout as “impressive.”

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) did not provide sufficient cards for the agents of the APC for identification.

Read Also: JUST IN: Tinubu votes, says I’m confident of victory

“I hope what have seen here will obtain in length and breadth of the state. I think INEC for the hard work. They have taken up more responsibility as they have had in the past.

“I’m sure the election will go well. We have not heard about any crisis anywhere, it’s going peacefully,” he said.

System (BVAS).

Obasanjo, who arrived the polling unit around 10.25 am, noted the BVAS ensured the credibility, transparency and fairness of the election.

Read Also ; Obasanjo’s polling unit awaits INEC officials, materials

He added an election is just the first leg of the process of enthroning quality leadership and governance in a country.

He expressed the hope that the BVAS would work seamlessly across the country.

As of 9:30 am, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were yet to arrive the Rumeme polling unit of Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike.

Security operatives at the unit and some voters were seen waiting for the electoral officials and materials

Read Also ; Obasanjo’s polling unit awaits INEC officials, materials.

At the Rumeme RAC centre, the electoral officials were seen waiting for the arrival of materials meant for various units in the area.

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Photo of Wike’s polling unit as at 9:30am

Former South Africa President and Chairperson of the Commonwealth Observer Group to Nigeria, Thabo Mbeki, has said the group was hopeful of a peaceful election following the signing of a peace accord by political parties.

Speaking in an interview on NTA, Mbeki noted that political parties have expressed confidence in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to handle the polls effectively.

” We are hoping for peaceful elections. The parties signed the peace agreement and we hope they stick to that. All the parties we spoke to have shown confidence in INEC’s ability to handle the polls,” he said.

Read Also : Obasanjo’s polling unit awaits INEC officials, materials

He said all eyes were on the country since it is an important member of the Commonwealth.

“We are going round to observe the election. The election in Nigeria will be closely watched. Nigeria is an important member of the Commonwealth. Everyone is paying attention to the election,” he said.

After standing for about 25 minutes, Rivers Governor, Nyesom Wike, could not be validated to cast his vote at his Polling Unit 8, Ward nine, Rumueprikon, Obio-Akpor, following the failure of the Bio-modal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS).

The Governor, accompanied by his wife, Suzzette, left the polling unit at about 11 am as the officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) appealed to them to wait a little while.

The officials described the failed BIVAS as a general problem in the State adding that they were waiting for technicians assigned to the unit to rectify the problem.

A crowd of voters was patiently waiting to begin accreditation at the unit.

Read Also: BVAS fails to capture PDP candidate in Ondo Central

The Governor, who left the unit, said they were disappointed with INEC.

He said: “We are highly disappointed. INEC told us they were ready for the election and that BIVAS are working. You can see the crowd here I don’t think that most people will be allowed to vote with slow working of the BIVAS. 

“I have stayed about 25 minutes here and I was told to go and come back that they will rectify the BIVAS. We are highly disappointed. If a number of people are disenfranchised, what do you expect?

“People will lose their temper and anything could happen. INEC ought to have been completely ready before telling the people they are ready. There is no violence anywhere in the state”.

The Labour Party (LP) chairman in the Karshi district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Valentine Onuigbo, is dead. 

Family members found him to have died in his sleep in the wee hours of Saturday. 

Read Also: FCT PDP chairman, two others die in crash

He coordinated the pre-election activities of the party till late Friday and was said to have been eagerly awaiting the commencement of voting on Saturday. 

His body has been deposited in Asokoro Hospital mutuary in the nation’s capital. 

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) Peter Obi is yet to vote. 

But operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed his voting centre in Agulu, Anaocha local government area of Anambra State. 

The former Governor, who was seen in his convoy with aides moving from one centre to another, came to his Amatutu Ward 2, unit 019 to interact with the EFCC team. 

Read Also: Atiku votes, says ‘I’m very optimistic’

He quickly drove off by 10.35 am to an unknown destination, saying “I’m not voting now “

However, voting commenced in his Ward at exactly 8:40 am with no fewer than 80 persons on the queue. 

The youth leaders in Agulu on motorcycles were seen parading everywhere. 

The first voter at the unit, Pa Peter Anedum, who with The Nation, appealed to Nigerians to vote for a President that would change the social-economic challenges facing the nation. 

Ondo central senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) Ifedayo Adedipe has not been able to vote due to the inability of the BVAS to capture him.

Adedipe at his polling unit one Ward 9 Oba Ile Estate in Akure, saw his name on the displayed voters’ list.

Read Also; INEC confirms collection of 241,091 PVCs, 3,991 BVAS in Sokoto

He told journalists that he has always voted at the polling unit where his name could not be found in the BVAS.

Adedipe, however, urged other voters having similar experiences to exercise patience.

Police operatives in Lagos have recovered about 1,000 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) abandoned in Ago Palace Way, Okota.

The PVCs, it was gathered, were dumped around Last Bus Stop area of Ago on Friday evening.

It was learnt that some residents who first saw the PVCs opened the packs and were calling out names so that owners could get them.

Read Also ; INEC investigates PVCs found in Anambra forest

The Nation learnt that massive crowd soon gathered at the scene which prompted the police to retrieve the cards to prevent chaos.