Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has attributed the low turnout of voters in the governorship election to apathy.
Ajimobi, who is seeking re-election, said the voters were more eager for change at the federal level than in the states.
“In some states they want continuity and feel that once the government at the top has been changed, the one at the state level is of less concern to them,” he said.
Ajimobi, who cast his vote at Ward 11 Unit 20 of Community Grammar School, Oluyole Extension in Ibadan SouthWest Local Government Area, commended the conduct of the elections.
“The process is commendable, transparent and excellent. The report of pockets of violence during the elections has been addressed by the appropriate authority.
“We should expect such violence in an environment like this,” Ajimobi, who was accompanied to the centre by his wife, Florence and a daughter, said.
The governor said that reports reaching him indicated that the elections had been peaceful.
He said that the elections had been so far the best in the history of the country.
“INEC has corrected the lapses that occurred in the last election and this made the governorship and House of Assembly elections to be very smooth,” Ajimobi said.
But Sen. Rashidi Ladoja, the Accord Party governorship candidate in Oyo State, on Saturday expressed displeasure with the electoral process in some polling units within the Ibadan metropolis.
Ladoja, a former governor of the state, said this while addressing newsmen after his accreditation at Ward 10, Unit 13 at Ondo Street, Old Bodija, Ibadan.
“Although things are going on smoothly here, reports, however, reaching us from some other centers within the metropolis have been quite disturbing.
“We have heard of malfunctioning card readers and of political thugs intimidating voters in the exercise of their rights. We also have reports of thugs stealing ballot boxes,” he said.
Ladoja, however, reiterated his confidence in the security agents in ensuring that the people’s mandate was not stolen.
Mutiat, the wife of the former governor, who accompanied him to the polling centre, said she was confident that her husband would be victorious at the polls.
Meanwhile, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in Ondo State, Olamide George, said he was satisfied with the conduct of the election in the state.
George, who is contesting to represent the Akure North constituency in the Ondo State House of Assembly, said that the elections signified the liberation of the people.
The House of Assembly candidate, who cast his vote at Unit 9, Ward 9, Oba-Ile in Akure North Local Government, said he was impressed with the massive turn out of electorate in the area.
George said that instituting a democratic system was a gradual process and the conduct of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be better with time.
Also, an APC Senator-elect representing Ondo Central Senatorial district, Tayo Alasoadura, commended the voters for their peaceful conduct during the elections.
Alasoadura, who cast his votes at Unit 5, Ward 8, Iju Itaogbolu, said that the people must ensure peace during and after the elections.
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