THE Governorship and State Houses of Assembly election held trough out the country yesterday with voters reportedly conducting themselves in an orderly manner at the various polling units visited.
Here in Edo state, the election which was only held to elect members of the State House of Assembly went on peacefully in most of the wards visited in Benin City. There was also voters’ apathy in virtually all the polling units monitored by our correspondents.
Accreditation of voters by officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also went on smoothly with the Card Readers’ Machines which almost marred the marred the last Presidential and National Assembly elections working perfectly.
At Obakhavbaye Primary School in Benin City, Ward 2, the turn-out of voters was relatively low but the elections there was orderly.
Voters turn out at the Oredo Ogbe 1 Units 003, 004 (car park II), 007 (Ezoti Primary School) and 009 (St. Paul’s Primary School) was low due to likely voters apathy.
However staff of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), voting materials, security agents, arrived early at the polling units and accreditation commenced at about 8:15am at Oredo Ogbe 1 Units 003, 004 (Car Park II) while at units 007 (Ezoti Primary School) and 009 (St. Paul’s Primary School) started at about 8:30am.The exercise went peacefully as the efficiency level of INEC appeared to have improved as the card readers in all units visited worked effectively as it took a minute or two to accredit one voter except for unit 007 (Ezoti Primary School) where the card reader machine malfunctioned and the incidence forms were used.
In Oredo Ogbe 1 Unit 003 and 004 (Car Park II) voting commenced at about 1:30pm while in 007 (Ezoti Primary School) and 009 (St. Paul’s Primary School) voting started at about 1:20pm. The process went on smoothly and orderly under the watchful eyes of security agents, party agents, the media and other stakeholders at the various units.
There was however large turn out of voters at Ugboko Numagbae in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.
Voters conducted themselves in orderly manner and the exercise was peaceful and violence free.
However, there were reported gun shots at Uvbi Primary School Oredo Ward 10 by some unknown persons.
The policemen/women on duty immediately called for re-enforcement and in split seconds additional policemen came in droves. Men of the Nigerian Army also arrived to the cheer of the voting crowd and voting began almost immediately.
At the end of the voting, counting and collation of results began.
At Ivbiyeneva Primary School on St. Saviour Road, Ikpoba Okha local government with 20 polling units, the turn out was also impressive and peaceful with voters on queue waiting to cast their votes at about 1.19 p.m.
The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie Oyegun also cast his vote at Ward 2, Unit 2 at Staff Training School, GRA, Benin City where he commended INEC over the good use of the Card Readers’ Machines. He advised the electorate to maintain peace at the polls.
A chieftain of All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Osamede Adun who spoke with newsmen advised all the party loyalists to remain calm and cast their votes peacefully.
According to the Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Edo State who also participated in the exercise at the ward with over 30 polling units, “we are a community here and everybody laws on another, there is no need for rancour, fighting or violence.
At George Idah Primary School in Benin City Ward 2, Hon. Arigbe-Osula was excited over the orderly conduct of the elections, particularly the relative peace that reigned in the units.
The Special Senior Adviser (SSA), Media, to the Edo State Governor, Comrade Curtis Ugbo lamented the low turn-out of voters at the Greater Tomorrow voting centre, even as he commended INEC for being on ground to conduct the election.
The former Military Administrator of Taraba and Oyo States, DIG Amen Oyakhire (retd) who also voted at Greater Tomorrow Primary School however, commended President Goodluck Jonathan and Gen. Mohammadu Buhari for their peaceful disposition towards the conduct of the elections.
He said their commitment to peace was a demonstration that democracy has come to stay in the country.
At Garrick Memorial School in Benin City, there was heavy presence of security men who were on ground to forestall any possible out break of violence.
A chieftain of the APC, Gen. Charles Airhiavbere who voted at the school told newsmen that the turn-out was comparable to that of the March 28 elections. He commended INEC on the use of the card readers’ machines, which he said had been wonderful.
VOTERS
