The Labour Party governorship candidate, Adebayo Alao-Akala, on Saturday lauded the electorate in the state for their zeal and comportment in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
He told journalists after accreditation at the Ward 10, Polling Unit 13, Sabo-Taara in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State, that the development signified growth of democracy in the country.
Alao-Akala, a former governor of Oyo State, commended INEC electoral officers for their early arrival at the various polling units and urged them to maintain neutrality in the discharge of their duties.
He, however, said that it was too early to assess the performance of INEC in the elections.
The former governor said that democracy had improved in the country with every election, adding that Nigerians had shown great enthusiasm in recent time during general elections.
“I am impressed with the peaceful way the electorate have gone about the whole electoral process in Ogbomoso. I laud them for being non-violent and peaceful.
“Although, I can describe the turnout as good but I believe the turnout will be impressive by the time voting commences.
“I also commend the electoral officials for arriving promptly at the various polling units. It shows Nigerians are developing with every election.
“I am also pleased with the security arrangements,” he said. At the Ward 5, Polling Unit 2 in Idiose Aperin, Ona Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State, the PDP governorship candidate, Sen. Teslim Folarin, however, decried the performance of INEC’s Smart Card Readers.
The PDP governorship candidate told journalists after his accreditation that the card reader introduced by INEC was a “disaster. The use of the card reader by INEC is a disaster.
Two weeks ago it worked well, but today the officials say it could not capture my thumb print,” he said.
Folarin also expressed disappointment at the poor turnout of voters and implored residents of the state to come out and exercise their civic obligation before it was too late.
The governorship candidate said that turnout of voters during the Presidential and National Assembly elections was better when compared to the governorship and House of Assembly polls.
“Election comes every four years, so we have called on the voters in this area to come out to vote,” he said.
In Ile Ife, Osun State, Sen. Babajide Omoworare, who was re-elected to represent Ife East/ Ijesa Senatorial District, said that accreditation was conducted peacefully in his constituency.
Omoworare made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ile-Ife.
He decried the low turnout of voters during the exercise, attributing the development to apprehension of violence by the people.
The senator, however, described the process as hitch-free and thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Omoworare commended INEC for excellent coordination and for provision of logistics for the successful conduct of the elections.
He urged people in the state to be law abiding and maintain the peace during and after the elections.
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