Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state has commended the turn out of electorate for the local government elections held today Saturday, saying that democracy has come to stay.
“From what we can see here, the turn out is very okay. Democracy has come to stay”, he said.
Speaking after casting his vote at Idigba polling unit 004 of Adewole Ward of the Ilorin West local government area at about 10:55 am, the governor described conduct of the election as peaceful.
Gov AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq casting his vote at polling unit 004 at Idi-Igba, Adewole, Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State during the council polls on Saturday.
He further commended the security agencies for their conduct and urged them to maintain the spirit.
While assessing the situation, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Ilorin South local government area of the state, Hon. Majeed Bolakale Podo, adjudged the process as peaceful and orderly.
Addressing Journalists at Polling Unit 009, Odo Opela, Taiwo Isale in Ilorin South, he commended the orderly conduct of the electorate and smooth execution of the exercise by the electoral personnel.
“Everything is going smoothly. There’s not been any complaint in all the wards in the Ilorin South. It has been peaceful and orderly so far.
APC chairmanship candidate for the Ilorin South local government, Hon. Majeed Bolakale Podo casting his vote at Polling Unit 009 Odo Opela, Taiwo Isale, Ilorin.
Speaking on his programme for the constituents if elected, Hon. Podo said that, “If I emerge chairman of my local government, I’ll follow footsteps of my governor because the governor is a performing governor.
Also speaking while monitoring conduct of the election in parts of the Ilorin metropolis, the chairman of the Kwara state Independent Electorate Commission (KWASIEC), Mohammed Baba-Okanla, ascribed reported delay in the commencement of the election in some areas to a breakdown in logistics.
KWASIEC Chairman Mohammed Baba-Okanla Inspecting voting processes at Idigba area in Ilorin West LG.
“Some circumstances can cause delay. Some of the vehicles conveying election materials to polling units broke down and we’ve found ways to amend the situation. You can see in this area now, normalcy has returned. In some of the places we’ve visited, there was no problem it’s just that there was late arrival of material. But as soon as we got there, situations were improved upon.
Also speaking on the delay of arrival of election materials, Oladimeji Basambo, a Supervising Officer of Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) at the collation center in Danialu Primary School , Ilorin.
He offered insights into the initial voting delays experienced in Akanbi Ward 3 and
attributed the delays to inadequate transport arrangements.
“Insufficiency of vehicles designated to transport materials and personnel to their respective polling units (PU) caused the delay.
“With over 51 PUs falling under the collation center, voting had not commenced by 10:46 am.
“There was a shortage of vehicles to convey officers and materials to the designated PUs at the outset.
However, the situation is currently being addressed,” he remarked.
Mr. Oladimeji Basambo, a supervising Officer of KWASIEC, distributing election materials at Danialu Collation and Distribution Centre Akanbi ward 3 Ilorin South local government area of Kwara state.
Addressing concerns regarding missing essential voting documents, Basambo assured that the elections would be conducted efficiently and every voter would be catered to.
“An average of 250 voters are registered under each PU, which should not pose a challenge by the end of the day.”
Regarding reports of missing materials for the chairmanship election allegedly raised by some units in Onikanga, Basambo stated that such grievances should be directed to him.
“As evident here, we instruct each PU officer to verify their kits before departing for their respective units. Any such issues should be reported to me; however, I have not received any such reports yet,” he said.
Election into the sixteen local governments Councils took place for the first time in the last seven years.
The last LG elections was held in the state in November 2017.
