Trail INEC, Security Agencies’ Performance

BY AYO ESAN

The long-awaited Presidential and National Assembly Elections came as scheduled last Saturday.

Many political analysts, as well as local and international observers, have praised the Independent National Electoral Commission’s determination to deliver on its promise to conduct the elections and the courage of Nigerians who, despite the crippling effects of a persistent cash crunch and scarcity of petroleum products in the country, ensured that they turned out to cast their votes.

However, despite complaints of delay in voting, pockets of violence at polling units and the non-functional Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in some polling units across the country, many people have described the process as peaceful while commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for doing a good job.

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and described it as “good, smooth and fair.”

Speaking on the late arrival of INEC officials to his polling unit, Tinubu, who cast his vote at Ward 85, Polling Unit 047 at Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos State, said he had no issues with INEC. He also expressed the hope that the election will be free and fair.

The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, also commended INEC for a smooth conduct of the election as well as security agents for providing effective security. Atiku, who cast his vote at exactly 9:08 am at his Ajia polling units 012, expressed confidence in winning the election.

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu also commended the INEC for the smooth conduct of the

Presidential and National Assembly elections.

Speaking after casting his vote at his polling unit in Eyekole Ward, Lagos Island Local Government, Sanwo -Olu said, “As you can see, the accreditation for my wife and I went smoothly. It was smooth and there was no form of hindrance or intimidation.

“We cast our votes. It is right on time and well. I hope it will be the same all over".

Sanwo-Olu described the turnout at the polls as fair. "The election is peaceful and without any incident as at this time. I hope this will continue,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for

Finance, Mr Wale Olowo, commended the people of his ward in the Ebute Metta Area of Lagos for being peaceful during the poll.

Speaking after carrying out his civic duty at his polling unit, Ward 24, Polling Unit 36 in Lagos Mainland, Olowo said that INEC has done well with its conduct of the election.

“We like what we are seeing. The conduct is smooth and peaceful and we are grateful for that"

A PDP Chieftain and former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Olabode George, applauded the INEC over its voting process through the use of Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS).

George said the use of BVAS had drastically reduced the time spent on accreditation and voting, as well as eliminated other discrepancies associated with the exercise in the country. He lauded INEC on Saturday and prayed that the new system would work to make people's votes count.

George said he was able to do accreditation and voting within just five or six minutes and expressed the belief that the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that there was free and fair polls was already working, declaring that it was time Nigerians showed zero tolerance for rigging and vote buying and country move to higher heights.

"I got there, and within a period of five to six minutes, I did my accreditation through BVAS, and completed the voting exercise. This system should continue”.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Baba, described Saturday‘s elections as the best he had ever witnessed in the country.