Category: Nigeria Decides 2023

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has voted at the ongoing Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Governor arrived at his polling unit 006, Eiyekole Ward, at St. Stephen’s Primary School, Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area with his wife, Ibijoke by 10.16 am.

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They were accredited by 10.21 am and voted at 10.25 am.

Sanwo-Olu, who described the process as peaceful, prayed it will continue like that all over the country.

“This is a good turnout, and the process has been peaceful without any incident at all. I am hoping the whole country will be reflective of what’s happening here,” he said.

Accreditation and voting commenced at Suleja Emir’s Palace Polling Unit 003 at 8:25 am

Preference was given to the elderly and those with health challenges.

The Presiding Officer, Suleiman Usman, commended the voters for orderliness and peaceful conduct.

He however complained about the challenge his team was facing with the BVAS in face detection.

He said: “We started around 8:25 am and only about 14 people have been able to vote as of 9:51 because of the difficulty in face detection by the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)

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“Aside the poor performance of the BVAS, voters have conducted themselves well.”

A team of Observers from the European Union Election Observation Mission was present at the polling unit.

Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, wore a solemn look on Saturday morning as residents started trooping out to vote in today’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Nation observed that voting commenced at polling unit 16, Ward 11 and polling unit 15, Ward 11 – both in African Church Grammar School Ita Eko -Abeokuta, around 8.40.am. and 8.48a.m respectively.

The turnout of voters was quite low compared to what was obtained in the same units and wards in previous elections.

Accreditation of voters through the BVAS took an average of three minutes per person. At polling unit 16, the first person to be accredited via the Personal Voter Card(PVC) identification process failed repeatedly but when the Bimodal Voter’s Accreditation System(BVAS) was used for him, the process succeeded.

At former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s polling unit 2, Ward 11 located at Olushomi compound, Totoro – Sokori area of Abeokuta, anxious voters were seen waiting patiently for the INEC officials and electoral materials to arrive the venue but as of 9.05a.m, they were not yet around.

The Nation learnt that a wrong BVAS machine was deployed to the Obasanjo’s polling unit and when the error was discovered, it had to return to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office Magbon, Abeokuta for remedy.

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At unit 35, Kemta Estate, Abeokuta, registered voters started gathering in their numbers in readiness to cast their votes.

The electoral officers arrived at the unit around 7.03 am with all the necessary materials ready, according to one of them who spoke to our reporter on condition of anonymity.

Security operatives – Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were also around to provide security to the venue.

However, as of 8.03 am two commercial buses carrying electoral materials and personnel pulled up briefly at Sapon, the epic centre of the recent Cash Crunch protest that rocked Ogun State in early February, before taking off again to their destinations.

There was late arrival of election materials in Enugu metropolis and most areas of the State.

Voting was scheduled to begin by 8.30 am but as at 9.30am, eofficials and materials were seen just arriving in some places such as Okpara Square, Government Technical College and others.

Read Also ; INEC officials yet to arrive Shettima’s polling unit

However, at Ibagwa-Nike primary school, Idaw River Primary School, Uwani Secondary School, Obiagu Primary School and many other voting centres, election materials and officials were yet to arrive as of the time of filing this report as voters hang around at polling units.

Tens of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at the Government Technical College (GTC) Ikotun, in Alimosho LGA, were yet to be deployed to their respective polling units for Saturday’s presidential and National Assembly elections as of 10:27 am.

The Nation learnt they are facing transportation issues following the inadequate number of vehicles to convey them and their materials.

Read Also ; INEC officials yet to arrive Shettima’s polling unit

Those who spoke with The Nation in anonymity said from the GTC, they would be deployed to various parts of Alimosho LGA, including Ijegun, Igando, Ikotun, Ipaja, Egbe and environs.

Alimosho is reputed to be the largest LGA in Lagos State.

Accreditation is yet to commence at most polling units in the Ikorodu area of Lagos due to logistic reasons.

The development caused the late arrival of election materials at most polling units.

Although party agents and voters were on the ground, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were still being awaited as at10.00 a.m. at most polling units visited.

INEC had scheduled accreditation for between 8.00 am and 12 noon.

Many voters were seen waiting anxiously for the arrival of INEC officials for the accreditation, which was yet to commence in most polling units located at Itamaga, Omitoro town, Ojogbe, Beach Road, Gbasemo road, Odugate street in Ikorodu area of Lagos.

A Federal High Court on Friday granted an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Independent INEC from contracting, partnering or appointing Lagos State Parks Management Committee from distributing 2023 election materials and personnel in Lagos State.

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Justice Chukwuejekwu Aneke, who presided over the court, made the order while delivering judgment in a suit marked FHC/L/CS//2023, filed by Labour Party, it’s governorship candidate, Gbadebo Rhodes-vivour and four others.

Other applicants in the suit are: African Democratic Congress and Boot Party and their governorship candidates, Mr. Funsho Doherty, and Wale Oluwo respectively.

Oyo Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal has arrived the Ward 6, Unit 4, Kishi, Irepo Local Government Area of the State to cast his vote.

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He arrived around 9: 56am with his wife, Ajibola.

They were warmly received at the unit by his director of Protocol.

He was then accredited and issued the ballot papers.

As of 8:43 am, voters are still waiting for the arrival of INEC officials at the four polling units on Durban Street

A voter, Mr Ogbu, who has been at his unit on Durban Street since 7 am said he was feeling awful that neither materials nor INEC had arrived at almost 9 am.

Read Also ; Plateau INEC confirms availability of sensitive materials, commences distribution

Around 8:52 am, a bus conveying officials of INEC arrived at one of the units. The INEC officials arrived Airwaves Hotel unit on Durban Street at about 9 am.

Other units within the Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent axis started setting up at 9:15 am with voters assisting INEC officials.