WRITTEN BY:
Oladimeji Abitogun, Abdullahi Ibrahim,Wuraola Fasemore, Akinola Akinyemi, Alo Oluwasegun and Akinyemi Bolarinwa.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country has this Saturday risen beyond its haphazard preparations to successfully hold multi party general elections in which 73 presidential candidates featured on the ballot.
Incumbent president Mohammed Buhari and former vice president Atiku Abubakar led a park of seventy one others, including new political gladiators like online news publishing sensation Omoyele Sowore, former deputy governor of Central Bank of Nigeria Profesor kingsley Moughalu, leadership expert Fela Durotoye and financial experts and economist, Tope Fasua, in the election originally scheduled to hold last Saturday February 16th, 2019. It was shifted by one week because of logistical, weather and reasons of sabotage adduced by electoral umpire, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
While the election was generally peaceful in most precincts across the country at least close to two million prospective first time voters who turned eighteen years old, the legal age minimum for adult suffrage, would not participate in the exercise because they were short out by poor civic registration updating as the country still struggles with such basic necessity of nationhood.
In defiance of electoral laws which frown at fraud and other under-hand tactics, there have been unsubstantiated allegations of ballot stuffing and snatching of ballot boxes, perennial issues which often impeached the integrity of the electoral process, attempts were still made to snatch ballot boxes in Abonema ward 10, Rivers state where a certain Mr Thywill Dobtubo was said to have been shot dead by military personnel acting on the pre election orders of President Buhari. In bonny, fears are been expressed about possible danger to National Youth Service Corps members, hired as INEC adhoc workers for today’s election. A breastfeeding mother was said to have been struck by stray bullet fired by unknown hoodlums.
Also, there were reports of willful destruction of vote already casted in okota ward of Oshodi/Isolo LGA of Lagos state. A frustrated voter at a polling unit at Okota captured photo shots of scared voters running helter-skelter as a result of the melee which occurred around 1:22 PM. Those who perpetrated the frightening incidence were identified by eye witnesses as thugs belonging to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). When they arrived, they allegedly shot sporadically and ordered whoever would not vote for their party to scram. A resident of the neighborhood alleged that two people were shot. Also, one of the miscreants who came to destroy the ballot was said to have been apprehended and burnt beyond recognition.
As at 11:57 am, anticipatory voters at polling unit 15, Ajah/Songotedo of Eti Osa local government were exacerbated waiting for appropriate materials for the presidential election as it was alleged that they were initially given wrong ballot papers.
In Ondo state, accreditation started in time as prospective voters trooped out as early as 6:30 AM in many of the polling stations in Akure south and Akure north local government. At orita obele polling unit, enthusiastic citizens in exercise of their civic right came out to authenticate their displayed profiles on the walls. Some of them politely registered their observations and suggestions with designated INEC officials and accredited journalist. Major Street around the state capital was deserted, only vehicles on official duties were noticeable at the oba ile/fiwasaye intercession. There was a military checkpoint manned by two soldiers one of whom cautioned commuters to behave themselves, disclosed their missions or otherwise be dealt with. There was also another military checkpoint at the Akure Airport junction on Akure/Owo express way at Ogodo Ajayi/Eleyeowo. At the different polling unit around Akure,Oba ile and Ayede ogbese voters bore themselves no animosity, they exchanged pleasantries and simply went about the business of casting their ballot. The former gubernatorial candidate of people’s Democratic Party (PDP), Mr.Eyitayo Jegede who voted at the sacred heart cathedral of Gbogi/isinkan ward expressed mixed feelings about the initial poor performance of the electronic card readers and expressed the hope that the device would work better. At St. Anthony RCM School Araromi, voters waiting in line allegedly booed the incurbent house of Reps member for Akure south/north federal constituency, Mr. Afe Olowokeere whom they alleged had not been seen in the ward since winning the seat.
In Osun state, at Iba, in ifelodun Lga unit 1&9, elections were cancelled because of ballot tampering.
In Kogi state, thugs wielding machetes and Ak47 assault rifles allegedly snatched electronic card readers and in Kaduna state, votes were said to have been hawked for as little as five hundred naira. Incident of underage voting were also reported.