Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday advised winners of the presidential and the National Assembly elections to show magnanimity in victory, saying losers should also accept defeat.
The former President said, “In any competition, there will always be winners and losers. That is what anybody in any competition must be prepared for as a good sportsman. Whoever that wins should show magnanimity. If I lose, I will also bow down graciously. That is what any competition is all about.
“If your purpose of going for any competition is that you must win at all costs, then that is no longer a competition. I know INEC will make amends for the shortcomings ahead of the next elections.”
Obasanjo arrived at Ward 11, Unit 22, Olusomi Compound, Totoro Road, Sokori, Abeokuta North Local Government Area, in a black Lexus Jeep marked AAD 24 TF (Ogun), at 11:10am and cast his votes at 11:15am.
He however, spoke on the challenge he encountered at his polling unit over the delay in getting the election materials available.
He said, “I am here to perform my civic duty and cast my votes. I believe, in my in polling centre, there was a little delay.
“The election materials arrived late. Voting was delayed by three hours, which can be accommodated. Other than that, the process is going smoothly.
“I went through the process. They put my PVC in the card reader. Then, they have a bit of problems sorting my thumb print. When they were able to sort it out, they made me to go through the process of voting.
Amosun expresses confidence in winning Ogun Central
Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, who was a senatorial candidate in Ogun Central, expressed optimism of winning the seat.
He expressed confidence in INEC in conducting hitch-free polls. He said, “I know there is room for improvement for everything.
“Yes, the card reader took some time. In some instances, card reader fails. I think, it is a process and I believe we will overcome it.
“By and large, we can say the elections are going on well and peaceful. I will not say, it is cumbersome, but it is truly taxing, seeing the polling officers, signing all the three papers.
Card readers malfunction in Gbenga Daniel’s ward
There was a momentary delay in the voting of the Director General of the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, as the card reader failed to work.
After a few minutes, the problem was rectified as the former governor was able to cast his vote.
Daniel, who noted that the ballot boxes were not properly labelled, advised the presiding officers to get card boards and paste on the boxes.
He said, “As you can see, the card reader malfunctioned and I had some delay. But after some minutes, it was fixed. I think the election is going on fine for now and people are here to exercise their franchise.”
The card readers in units 1 and 5 , Isote, Sagamu, Ogun State, broke down for over two hours.
…as residents clash over Daniel’s largesse
There was confusion in Isote, Sagamu, shortly after some residents crowded Gbenga Daniel’s convoy.
Daniel, who had cast his votes around 8:30am, was mobbed by the men who demanded money from him.
After collecting an undisclosed sum of cash, there was a sudden rush into the street as argument ensued over the sharing.
My name is Sango, I will clear you, angry soldier barks at Sagamu voters
Residents on Isote Street, Makun, Sagamu, Ogun State, ran helter skelter on Saturday as confusion spread after a misunderstanding between a voter and soldiers patrolling the area.
One of the soldiers had fired a warning shot into the air while the elections climaxed.
Our correspondent learnt that a voter, who did not know that the soldiers understood Yoruba, boasted in the native language that no bullets could penetrate his body.
One of the soldiers, who identified himself as Sango, became livid as he stepped out of their butter coloured Sienna vehicle and sought his challenger.
While pacing up and down the road, he dared anyone with traditional bulletproof charms to come out and face him.
“My name is Sango. If there is anybody that thinks bullets cannot penetrate him, he should come out. I will clear him. Go and ask about me. I am the officer in charge of this area and I am Yoruba. I have been patrolling other places without any problem. If you think you have mental issues, try it and see what will happen to you,” he said.
….female voter collapses
Meanwhile, tragedy was averted at Iperu, Ikenne, after a female voter collapsed.
She was said to have been affected by the crowd and long waiting on the queue.
A resident also told our correspondent that the victim did not eat before going to the polling unit.
“She has been taken to a hospital for treatment,” the resident added.
…APC gov candidate laments card reader failure
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Mr Dapo Abiodun, who voted where the incident happened, however, expressed shock at the news that card readers failed in some parts of the state and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission resorted to manual verification.
Akinlade expresses concern about inadequate technology
The governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples’ Movement in Ogun State, Adekunle Akinlade, said that lack of adequate technology may hinder the monitoring of missing ballot papers in the state.
Akinlade, while speaking at his polling unit, in the Ipokia Local Government area of Ogun State, said a lot of controversies had trailed the alleged missing ballot papers in some areas in Ogun State, adding that people who visited INEC office on Friday, said over 3000 ballot papers were not delivered.
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