Peaceful Polls In Lagos, Fashola, Tinubu Hail Exercise

The National Assembly election held in Lagos State, South West Nigeria today was very peaceful as voters trooped out in many areas to cast their votes for the candidates of their choice.

Governor Babatunde Fashola, who voted at Ward G3, Surulere and former Governor Bola Tinubu, who voted at Ward 3 in Ikeja hailed the peaceful conduct of the polls.

PM NEWS checks across the metropolis showed that the polls were very peaceful as security agents were on ground to ensure peace and orderliness.

In Ikeja, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC were on ground very early in the morning to begin the accreditation of voters as a large crowd eager to vote turned out to get accredited.

In Mende, Maryland, the poll was very peaceful while accreditation and voting went on in all the wards in the area.

In Surulere, voting was also very peaceful but the turnout was poor as residents refused to come out to partake in the exercise.

At ward G 3 where Fashola voted, the turnout was very poor but was better than the turnout of last week. Out of the 870 people who registered at the ward, only 316 were accredited to vote.

In Lagos Island, the turnout was very large while there were pockets of disturbances in the area but the situation was immediately brought under control by security agents.

At polling unit 014, Oshodi, Lagos Island, street urchins came to foment trouble and there was rowdiness until military men came to restore normalcy while one person was arrested.

At ward D I there was a report about an attempt to snatch a ballot box by street urchins but this was resisted.

There was also huge turnout in Oshodi as residents turned out to vote for the candidate of their choice.

Mushin, which was dubbed ‘war zone’, had a very peaceful election as voters cast their votes without rancour and violence.

Commenting on the poll, Fashola said he was happy because it was very peaceful and hoped other forthcoming polls would be peaceful too.

“I have voted, the exercise in this polling unit has been hitch free and we are waiting for feedback from other polling units so that we can collate and see the overall picture of what has transpired today.

“I liken this exercise to fresh pilots going on their test flights. Last week, we had an aborted flight, the crew is ready today, the pilot is ready, the passengers are on board and I think the aircraft has lifted appropriately. So let’s wait for the touchdown at the point of safe harbour,” he said.

On the consequences of the head count reducing the votes, the governor said “I think the electoral umpire had made it clear before now that only those present during the head count would vote and that is exactly what they have done.

“I think people should learn to follow the rules and regulations, its part of the process and responsibility on our part to comply to ensure hitch free and fast voting process.”

Commenting on the bomb blasts in Suleja, Niger State in which over 25 people, including youth corps members were killed, Fashola said “it is an unfortunate incident; it grieves my heart very deeply . For me, this democracy is about the future, it’s about that generation of people, it’s about young people, Youth Corps members just about to start out a life.

“I connect so deeply with them, I remember my life as a Youth Corps member getting ready for life and when one looks at what they have done, we haven’t gotten elections right too long, we entrusted them with this responsibility, they gave us a voters register that was of some acceptance quality compared to what we had and that showed you how ready young people were to begin to participate in national development.”

According to him, “I think it’s very sad in our apparent inability to resolve conflict peacefully, we sacrificed them for our own selfish reasons. It’s very painful, one just prays that their death would not just be in vain and something positive would come out of these elections as in some way atoning for the sacrifice, nothing really can atone for it.”

Speaking after voting, Tinubu hailed the exercise, saying he was impressed with the large turnout, adding that the trend indicated that subsequent elections in the state would record impressive turn out of voters.

On the bomb incident, Tinubu regretted the incident, saying it must be condemned by all Nigerians.

“It is regrettable and must be condemned by all Nigerians .These lives cannot be replaced. The image of the country has been shattered .The entire nation must mourn those killed in the blast. It is part of failure of this government. They have been trailed by blood.

“Look at what has happened so far, how many people that died at PDP rallies in Port Harcourt, Nasarawa , Katsina. May be God is sending us messages; maybe we should examine those in power. It is a failure of the country’s security system,” he added.

An Action Congress of Nigeria, CAN, House of Representatives candidate under Lagos Island 11Constituency, Mr. Yakub Balogun, said he was happy with the large turnout of voters in the area, saying confidently that he was going to win.

Another ACN House of Representatives candidate representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Hon. Bush Alebiosu-Bush lamented that some people who registered could not find their names on the register in the area.

He was sure that the ACN would win in the area as the party had done its home work very well.

By Kazeem Ugbodaga