Raw results of today's national legislative elections now trickling in indicate a big upset in themaking for the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), with the party losing ground in several key states across the country.
Among the emerging shockers, unconfirmed results from the polling booth at the Aso Rock presidential villa shows that President Goodluck Jonathan’s party may have been quite unlucky as it lost to the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
Similarly, in Abeokuta, Ogun state, the daughter of President Olusegun Obasanjo, Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who contested the Senatorial seat in Ogun Central, lost in her father’s Ita-Eko, Abeokuta Ward 11 to her ACN counterpart, Gbenga Obadara. While Obasanjop-Bello polled 85 votes, Obadara scored 194. The Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) got 12, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) polled 4 votes and Alliance for Democracy got 3 votes.
Also In Ogun State, in Governor Gbenga Daniel’s Isote Ward in Sagamu, his PDP Senatorial candidate, Toheeb Odunowo lost to the ACN candidate, former deputy governor of the state, Gbenga Kaka by 121 votes to PDP’s 90 votes; PPN scored 118 and Labour Party 27.
Also in Kwara State, Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe ((ACN) defeated outgoing governor Bukola Sakari (PDP). In Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, the former governor of the PDP also lost to his ACN rival while controversial senator, Iyiola Omisore has also lost his seat in vote tallies released so far.
As at 6.30pm, efforts to get the results from the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole’s Iporo-Sodeke ward proved abortive. But feelers suggest that he was also losing to the ACN candidate, Segun Williams.
Generally, the elections were peaceful throughout the country. Turn-out was massive in impressive in several areas, but noticeably low in others perhaps due to a misunderstanding about locations where the elections were postponed. Accreditation started early in some polling centres but began fairly late in a few others. There was also a reported shortage of materials in some polling areas and incidences of missing names in the voting register in some locations.
In Ward 14, Unit 5 in Abeokuta, for instance, of the 864 people registered only 338 turned up for accreditation. At the same Ward, 45 registered voters did not find their names in the voters register.
Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo voted at his Ward 11 located at African Church Grammar School, Ita-Eko, Abeokuta at 12.47pm. Speaking to journalists shortly afterwards, he described the exercise as having been reasonably peaceful. Though, he bemoaned the low turn-out at the ward, he observed that the election process had so far been free and fair.
He advised INEC to conduct a review of the exercise considering reports of some parties’ complaints that their emblems still did not appear on the ballot papers.
“I heard some people had their registration cards but their names did not appear and I do hope that INEC made preparation and arrangement for people who have genuinely registered and through no fault of theirs do not have all the things showing as it should have shown,” he said.
Also speaking shortly after casting his vote at the African Church Primary School, Ita-Iyalode, Owu, Abeokuta, the Governorship candidate of the ACN, Senator Ibikunle Amosun observed that the conduct of the elections suggest that INEC has done well.
He described the security arrangements put in place as commendable and expressed the hope that it would be sustained throughout the elections, particularly at the collation centres.
“I think this is commendable. It shows some kind of organization and semblance of preparedness. The accreditation and voting has been peaceful. We hope there will be no ballot box snatching,” Amosun said.
In Ward 13, Ago-Oba, where a former governor of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba cast his vote, voting was peaceful as people turned out in large numbers to vote. Afterwards, Osoba condemned the bombing incident Suleija and encouraged the people to be determined to face whatever hurdles and problems may arise from the voting exercise with a view to overcoming them.
He however complained of incidences of inadequate supply of voting materials in a number of places. “For instance, in Ofada ward in Obafemi Owode local council where 37,000 people registered, INEC sent 15, 000 voters cards. But overall, it appears to me that we may likely have a reasonably peaceful process,” he said.
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