Former Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended Nigerians for conducting a credible elections saying that the feat has now shown that Nigeria’s democracy is truly maturing.
Obasanjo who also commented on the low turn out at the governorship and house of Assembly elections said such low turn out was normal and should be expected because people normally show more interest in national elections than the state elections
The former president made the declaration while speaking with journalists shortly after he was accredited at Ward 11, Polling Unit 22 at Sokori area of Abeokuta South local government.
Obasanjo stated that the success of the 2015 general elections was an evidence that the democracy of Nigeria was maturing.
“We have done it for West Africa, we have done it for Africa and we have now done it for ourselves.
“Nigerians can now raise their heads in honour anywhere because there are evidences that our democracy is fast maturing”.
Obasanjo, who noted a relative slight drop in the turn-out of voters still adjudged the exercise largely successful.
“The reports that got to me indicates that there is a general low turn – out across the nation, but that the exercise has been orderly and peaceful”.
“Such low turn out is normal and should be expected because people normally show more interest in national elections than the state elections”.
The former president however, commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improving on its performance at the presidential and National Assembly (NASS) elections, noting that many people who did not have PVCs in this area have now gotten their cards.
“There were apprehensions concerning the polls because of some people who were beating drums of war but we thank God for taking control. I think on the whole, Nigerians should be proud of their performance”.
The former president also attributed the low turn out to apathy from those whose candidates lost in the last election who were not ready to go extra mile to vote this time around.
He then gave instance of his neighbour who travelled to Lagos on the march 28 presidential election to vote for his candidate and didn’t go for the Governorship election, because the candidate lost the election.
“The turnout from the information gathered across the country compared with the presidential election was lower compared to the presidential election”.
Also there was Voters apathy witnessed in many of the polling booths monitored at Remo area of Ogun State as there were low turnout of voters.
Though INEC improved on the governorship and House of Assembly elections as card readers functioned well in many of the areas visited.
There were early arrival of personnels and materials at many of the polling booths visited by our Correspondents.
Speaking to reporters after his accreditation, the newly elected House of Representatives for Remo federal Constituency, Hon Ladi Adebutu said in spite of the low turn out, his Party, PDP, is going to win the elections.
His words, “PDP is the biggest Party in the State, the most successful Party today, however there has been all manner of manipulations and intimidation by the APC here, particularly threat of violence and violence itself in the State fostered by the APC, but I can assure you PDP is going to win the elections”.
“The People of this State are disenchanted, we are overburdened by terrible loans and the State is in a general State of malice and total loss of hope. Our people by the end of this exercise would have spoken clearly that truly we need change in Ogun State.
“I don’t know the magic wand INEC used now to ensure that the card reader works well. Was it deliberate? I don’t know, because I get accredited within 10mins unlike last two weeks when we had to spend over ten minutes.”
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