Nigerians are waiting feverishly to know the results of the Governorship and House of Assembly elections held on Saturday, 18 March 2023 and know who will become chief executives and occupants of Government Houses between 2023 and 2027 in the states where governorship elections were held.
Political bigwigs in the country were at their respective polling stations to cast their ballots on Saturday.
‘I am sure we are going to win, again. Nigerians trust us because we mean what we say and say what we mean. We have maintained that trust. We told Nigerians that we will work for them, and we have done our best in education and health facilities, and Nigerians appreciate our efforts.
I am aware that the money is not there like before for people to sway voters like they used to do. And if they bring out money now, the people should pocket it and still vote their conscience’ President Muhammadu Buhari told reporters after casting his vote at Ward A, Sarkin Yara Polling Unit, 003 Daura , Katsina state on Saturday.
In Kebbi state, Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu after casting his ballot at Garkar Mai Alelu polling unit,006 in Nasarawa 11, Birnin Kebbi said unlike the Presidential and National Assembly elections which was characterized by delay in the arrival of election materials and delay in the commencement of voting at many polling places, the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections witnessed significant improvements .
‘ Unlike what happened on February, 25th during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, today, voting materials arrived early in most polling units.
I remember during the 25th February elections, voting materials at this particular polling station arrived here at about 1:30 pm and voting commenced at about 2 pm.
But today voting materials arrived here at 8 am, many people have voted and it is still about 12 noon and many people are still voting. Accreditation process seems to be moving well’ he said.
He was accompanied to the polling place by his two wives ;Hajiya Aishatu Atiku Bagudu and Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu .
Governor Ademola Adeleke, who voted at Sagba/Abogunde Ward 2, Unit 9 , Ede, Osun state, had urged Osun state residents to come out and vote , assuring them of safety and security.
‘You are still at home? Come out now and use your PVC as a democrat. It is safe outside. Exercise your right to vote and be voted for.
Don’t be scared to abandon your right to vote. Security agencies are in top form to ensure that you vote and that your vote counts. I have issued relevant directives to service commanders to secure lives and property as we all vote today.
I need you, good people of Osun state, to vote massively. If you love democracy and good governance, stand up now and face your polling units’ he said.
In Kwara state, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq voted at his Idigba Polling station 004 , Adewole Ward , Ilorin West local government at exactly 12:45pm.
Governor Abdulrazaq , who is seeking re-election, had since won in his polling place as official results by the Independent National Electoral Commission showed that APC got 243 votes in the governorship election while PDP had 58.
The Governor had earlier urged more voters to come out to exercise their franchise, following reports of low turnouts in some areas.
His polling unit and many areas of Adewole Ward however recorded large turnouts.
‘It’s been a mixed bag in terms of the turnout — appreciably large in some places and quite low in some areas — and we urge more people to come out’ Abdilrazaq, who arrived at the polling station along with his wife, Ambassador Olufolake AbdulRazaq and other members of his family, said.
‘Going by the turnout at this polling unit, this is impressive. But nationwide, including in parts of Kwara State, the turnout is a bit lower than the presidential and national assembly elections.
On the BVAS, the reports so far show that there are improvements, compared to the last elections’ he added.
The governor also commended the early arrival of polling officers while noting that he was upbeat about being re-elected by Kwarans citing his performance in various sectors of the state.
Former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki casting his vote at Opobiyi polling unit 021, Ilorin West, on Saturday. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs Oluwatoyin Saraki.
‘I feel very happy that the election exercise is peaceful and calm and I urge voters to conduct themselves in peaceful manner in line with Mr. President’s legacies and mandates.
I also advise winners and losers to play by the rules of the game. Losers should explore peaceful and legal means to pursue their interest and shun all forms of violence.
This is the only way our democracy can develop and be sustained’ President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff , Prof. Ibrahim Gambari also said after casting his vote at his Polling place, 005 Akanbi Ward 4.
Kwara state NNPP guber candidate, Prof. Shuaibu Oba AbdulRaheem , who also voted in Ilorin, has however urged the electoral umpire; INEC, to identify areas where there are needs for improvements.
‘What we heard is that many of the BVAS have no sim cards and therefore depend on virtual method.
There is a lot of confusion in that area. What INEC told us is not what we are getting now.
Electoral body says that the BVAS will be used and there will be instantaneous loading of data immediately after voting, but there is no evidence of this.
Everything had eventually turned mechanical, so it is contrary to the impression that people have been given, that the BVAS is a revolutionary instrument’ he said.
‘Talking of ballot papers , people still have difficulty in identifying our party’s logo.
The logo was mutilated and the name NNPP has not been put were it ought to be’ he added.
Chief Segun Olawoyin, a former local government chairman and Commissioner for Environment, also voted at his polling station in Offa, Kwara state on Saturday.
He equally used the opportunity to confirm his defection from the PDP to the APC.
‘I voted for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq because I was not comfortable with the conduct and attitude of the PDP guber candidate and considering the mood and the aspirations of my people , there is a need for us to allow the sitting governor to continue to run the affairs of the state.
APC will earn victory, you can see the mood of the people’ he said .
He also noted that ‘what is more important to me is the development of my community and how we can come together so that better things can come to Offa , we want good roads and other infrastructure projects’.
Former Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Osun state, Hon Bayo Adeleke ‘Banik’ has also voted at his polling station in Iree.
While commending INEC for a good job, the security agencies were urged to look into and address their shortcomings.
‘To God be the glory, it is almost gone now, it is getting to the conclusive stage across the state we know the importance of this election as a party and to our incoming governor because we have the assurance of the Almighty God that we will return to power.
It is a very important election, we have done what we should do but the election process is no more what it had been in the last twelve years
It is now marred by destruction of properties , killing and maiming .
When we had the presidential election, before that election over twenty five people were killed by PDP thugs and in some local governments people could not vote because they were scared off by hoodlums.
Our position is that the elections held last month were not free and fair in Osun state and the situation has not improved because as we speak, we were told that people could not vote in some local governments in Ijesha land because they were scared off by hoodlums.
We had the assurance of the security agencies that the election will be free and fair and that they will provide security but unfortunately I will not say they have not tried their best but their best is not enough.
We are not a party that promotes violence, all we seek for is a level-playing field for all.
In the presidential election, it was claimed that they won us by having ten thousand votes above what we had but this could have been gotten in one of the local governments where people were not allowed to vote.
It was even this that had resulted in voter apathy , they are saying they will kill and they are killing people.
PDP does not know about decorum when it comes to elections, how can snatching of ballot boxes still be considered as fashionable ?
They will collect BVAS, ballot boxes and destroy them, it happened in Iragbiji at polling places where the APC ought to have gotten votes , hoodlums came and took away all the materials.
INEC has done well to the best of my knowledge and to a large extent but security agencies , no’ he said.
Kwara State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Abosede Olaitan Buraimoh, who voted at PU 003, Post office, Ijagbo, also predicted victory for Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq citing his outstanding achievements.
‘The process is fast and seamless unlike what was the case during the previous elections everything is in order, we have done the needful and our candidates are sellable and we are hopeful.
My boss, Governor Abdulrazaq has done a lot to impact people’s lives, it is obvious that we are winning, and we have a high hope and faith. It will be a landslide victory’ she said.
Oke -Ogun SDP House of Assembly candidate ,Comrade John Adegboye described as untrue media reports that the party’ s candidates for the Governorship and house of assembly elections had withdrawn from the race to endorse candidates of other political parties.
He told reporters after casting his ballot at PU 002 Oja Oba , Igosun that he had not backed out of the race ,ditto other candidates of the party.
‘I was surprised to hear such a rumour ,some were claiming that we have withdrawn from the race it is quite surprising but it is part of politics, you engage in manipulation in order to gain advantage but as it is, I don’t know of any SDP candidate that has backed out of the race from the gubernatorial candidate to the House of Assembly candidates ,we are good to go.
We are not in any way discouraged because of what happened in the last elections, we believe that Tinubu’s factor worked in favour of many unqualified candidates, and I say this without apology to anyone.
Everybody here is for Tinubu and this influence made them to win but this election, it is a different ball game and we are coming into this contest fired up knowing full well that mistakes were made during the first one and it must be avoided. All the 24 house of assembly candidates of our party are in the race’ he said -Team@orientactualmags.com
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