Cases of ballot boxes snatching and late arrival or absence of electoral materials such as recording sheets and ballot papers were recorded in the Kwara state local government election conducted by Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) on Saturday.
Accreditation and voting did not start early in some polling booths in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital which accounted for a tensed atmosphere as some disgruntled voters expressed disappointment since they are kept stranded over lack of recording sheets, ballot papers and other electoral materials as well as cases of ballot snatching in some polling units and wards.
For instance, poling unit 003 at Ipate Oloje, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State witnessed impressive turn out of people but with no recording sheets, just as Polling units 006 at Oke Agodi 2, also in Ilorin, had no recording sheets and recorded little unrest and slapping of voters by security agents.
Polling unit 015 at Oke Agodi 1 recorded cases of polling boxes snatching as the electoral officers were seen awaiting recording sheets.
The voters also expressed disappointment over absence of security agents in some strategic polling units across the state.
According to them, they would not vote unless the recording sheets and the ballot papers were available and complete, alleging that the ballot papers available were incomplete and there was no recording sheets.
Some voters who spoke to journalists said that the tensed atmosphere created some fear among some politicians which prevented them from coming to polling booths to exercise their civic duties.
Irate youths at Ode-Aremu, in Ilorin West Local Government became agitated and started chanting threats to some staff KWASIEC of causing deliberate hitches in the election in order to ensure that the local government election swing in favour of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
However, areas like Ile-Alangua in Ilorin witnessed peaceful accreditation process, despite absence of political chieftains in their various wards to come out for casting of votes.
Generally in Ilorin, Kwara State Capital, voters turned out peacefully in many polling booths in to cast their votes for candidates of their choices but with some level of grievances recorded. For instance, voting started as scheduled by 9 am as voters were seen queuing for accreditation and voting going on simouteneously.
Security personnel were also seen stationed at strategic locations to forestall breakdown of law and order, and officers and men of the Nigeria Police, Army, Civil Defence, Immigration and FRSC were also stationed at polling booths to maintain order.
Speaking with journalists after casting his votes, Abubakar Kawu Baraje, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), who voted at Baboko ward 1 in Ilorin West Local Government at about 12.20pm, expressed satisfaction at the conduct of election.
Baraje said: “I am highly impressed with the turnout of voters for the election. I commend the efforts of Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission KWASIEC for the conduct.”
The APC chieftain who expressed optimism that APC would come out victorious at the end of the exercise, appealed to voters to come out en mass, just as he said, “I appeal to the contestants of all political parties , that ther is always a winer in any election and also looser. Whoever win, that his own luck, whoever looses as well, there is always another time. There is must never be rancor, no fighting. We must continue to keep the peace Kwara State is known for.”
Also, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who voted in Share in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State at about 9.40am, commended the State Electoral Commission for the smooth conduct of the election, just as he expressed satisfaction at the turnout of voters and security arrangement provided by officers and men of the Nigerian Army, the Police, Civil Defense and Immigration.
But, Bukola Saraki, Senate President, who voted in Agbaji Area of Ilorin West Local Government, said: “The turnout is very impressive, it shows that there is awareness and people are willing to support the government and the party and to exercise their civic duties in voting.
“I want to those who have come out to vote and be part of the process. We will continue to do our part to ensure that we improve on governance at all levels.
“As you know and as you always say, in Kwara State, there is only party that is on ground, we are confident that we will be victorious at the
end of the day. We are the only one that came out and carried our campaign, so we are confident that APC will win all the positions here.”
On what Kwara should expect from the incoming LG administration, Saraki said: “I think it is continuity to deliver to the people that should be of great concern.
“We know that there are a lot of demands from our people and the LG when they elect them, they should ensure that the live to the expectations and those of us should play our role to make sure that they do that.”
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
