Agency Report/
Mixed reactions have trailed the ongoing electoral exercise in Edo state, with various reports of electoral gadgets malfunctioning, claims of vote-buying, and pockets of palpable chaos nipped in the bud.
In the early hours of Saturday, there was mild tension at Emokpae Model Primary School in Oredo Local Government Area of the state, where Governor Godwin Obaseki, who is one of the candidates in the poll, went to cast his vote.
The fracas resulted from a misunderstanding between an agent of a political party and a supposed election observer. This occurred while some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were setting up for the election.
The party agent had allegedly mistaken the observer for another party agent and challenged him for sitting on a seat meant for the electoral officials. As a result, both men engaged in an altercation as other electorates at the venue watched.
The situation was later brought under control following the intervention of the security agencies on the ground.
Obaseki laments, berates INEC
After having stood for hours at his polling unit, the incumbent governor and candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Edo election, Godwin Obaseki, finally got his chance to cast his vote.
Obaseki said he was “surprised” and “shocked” at the slowness of card readers after he cast his vote in the Governorship poll being held in the state.
He said it was sad that such a glitch was being experienced after INEC had given assurances that such problems would be avoided.
I have no complaints, the process is okay says Ize-Iyamu
While Governor Obaseki is decrying the slowness of card readers, his major opponent in the guber race, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu said he had no complaints about the process so far.
After casting his vote in Iguododo Ward Five, Unit 26 of the Orhiomwon local government, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “I have no complaints, the process is okay; the INEC people came on time; they appear to be well prepared; so far, so good.”
He added that sometimes proceedings were delayed for too long and that since the INEC officials started the process early, then it means that the pressure is “not there” which is quite good.
Ize-Iyamu said he was happy that in some places they had started voting which is good. According to him, the feedback from his people at other venues suggested that all was going on well.
REC counters Obaseki, says no slow process
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson Alalibo, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo State said that all had gone well with the electoral exercise, a claim aimed at dismissing contrary claims by Obaseki.
According to the commissioner, there were not so many queues as reported, and as such, no one could really say the process was slow.
Apart from ugly reports in certain places, it’s been peaceful – Philip Shaibu
The deputy governor of Edo State, Mr Philip Shaibu said that though there were a few not too palatable reports, the election was going on peacefully.
A confident Shaibu told newsmen he was confident in the outcome of the polls if things were not altered from the state in which they are.
The deputy governor who in the late hours of the morning voted at his polling unit in Jattu, Etsako West local government, said “So far so good, apart from the report I am getting from some places that vote-buying, we have told them that anywhere they find anybody buying votes, they should let us know.
“I am happy that EFCC is also moving. So there is a particular person they are trailing now. Apart from that, the election is peaceful. You can see there is no violence in this ward.
“It is peaceful and things are going on well apart from some reports I am getting in other centres like in Auchi, I learnt they were buying votes (from) the former local government chairman.
“We have also alerted security. Apart from that, I think the violent aspect of this election so far is out.”
The running mate to Governor Obaseki said he was satisfied with the turn out of voters, but stressed that things would have been more if not for initial tension that followed the electioneering campaign.
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