Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Saturday commended the electoral commission, INEC, for the ongoing conduct of the 2015 presidential and National Assembly elections.
Mr. Ajimobi gave the commendation after casting his vote in company of his wife, Florence, at Ward 11 Unit 21, Oluyole Grammar School Extension, Ibadan.
“I think this INEC has made necessary corrections and they are fully prepared,” he said.
He also said the turnout of the electorate in a peaceful manner was a positive development.
Similarly, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, governorship candidate in Oyo State, Teslim Folarin, expressed happiness at the turnout of voters for the elections.
Mr. Folarin, who spoke to journalists at his Ward 5 Unit 5 Polling Unit in Ona -Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, said the turnout was massive, adding that this was a positive development for democracy.
“The card reader worked fine in my ward and polling unit. My wife and I were easily verified and authenticated,’’ he added.
He, however, said that the card reader was only suitable for elections like state polls and not elections of this magnitude.
“There is no problem with the use of card reader, but it is only appropriate for staggered elections,”he said.
He said the use of card reader was slowing down the electoral process, adding “people in places like Agbowo and University of Ibadan areas are having a different story to tell.”
“But all the same, there is an impressive turn out of voters and it is due to the fact that they want a change of government,” he said.
The Labour Party governorship candidate and a former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, also described the election in Ogbomoso as impressive.
Mr. Alao-Akala, who voted at exactly 2 p.m. at his Sabo-Taara Ward Polling Unit in Ogbomoso, told journalists that the electoral process was peaceful.
“If what we are experiencing here is what is going on all over the country, then the election is impressive and commendable,” he said.
The former governor said the card reader had presented a challenge and was quickly addressed.
“The problem of card reader also happened here but it was resolved quickly. I think the electoral umpire has tried.
“There is no problem as long as they have allowed people with accurate details on their cards, except the fingerprint problem, to vote,” he said.
Mr. Alao-Akala commended the youth in the town for heeding the call to eschew violence.
Also, the SDP governorship candidate in Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, said residents demonstrated maturity during the electoral process.
“The security arrangement; I will say, is dependent on the security forces.
“There has been no major incidence of violence because right now we just want to vote.
“People know that the terrain is changing; we didn’t gain anything from violence in the past; rather people that are not supposed to get into power got there through that means.”
In his statement, Olufemi Lanlehin representing Oyo South Senatorial District said the absence of violence within the metropolis depicted an improvement in the electoral process. He spoke to journalists at his Ward 8 Unit 2, Ibadan North West Local Government Polling Unit.
“Heartwarming is the absence of violence; there has been no major violent activity within my own federal district, that is commendable. `
“The things that mar election is the fear of violence and the actual perpetration of violence on our people.
“However so far, there has been no such negative report,” he said.
Mr. Lanlehin said the presence of members of the armed forces within the metropolis contributed to the peaceful process.
“One hopes that the trend we are witnessing endures and we have a free and fair election.
“The absence of violence and the peacefulness of the process so far is an indication of the presence of adequate security.
“I have heard that soldiers have been able to patrol the major streets and veer into minor streets; especially at the hotspots where one expects violence.”
