Saraki, Belgore rue postponenment

There was palpable apprehension on Friday, few hours to the postponed National elections in Kwara. Residents who spoke with our correspondent feared there could be breakdown of law and order owing to the desperation of political gladiators. Because of this, there was tight security in government houses and residences of leading politicians.

All fears of violence were however doused as the capital Ilorin witnessed calm. Voters turned out as early as 7 a.m for accreditation. But there were no INEC officials on ground. Polling centres swelled with people, anxiously waiting to vote. There were patient and calm despite their obvious discomfort.

While they were sweating away in centres, there was confusion in the state INEC headquarters along Olorunshogo area. The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Chief Timothy Ibitoye, was driven in around 8.30am, wearing a long face. A few minutes earlier, a text message purportedly from him had announced postponement of senatorial elections in Kwara South and Central. The commission also said there would be no voting in Irepodun/Isin/Ekiti/Oke-Ero federal constituency because ‘’the logo of Democratic Peoples’ Party (DPP) that has a validly nominated a candidate was inadvertently omitted’’.

All of these were confirmed about two hours later by Ibitoye to restless reporters who had been waiting all day for the commission’s clarifications. They were joined by two European Union observers. Voters at polling centres, including politicians and parties, were certainly oblivious of the postponements. Reports had it that some centres had started accrediting voters.

As reporters rushed out of the headquarters to file their reports, the commission’s PRO called them back for a ‘’ new, fundamental development’’. In terse briefing minutes later, Ibitoye announced postponement of all the elections. He attributed it simply to ‘’anomalies’’.

Meanwhile, voters were still awaiting accreditation across the state oblivious of the postponement. Many of them remained until 11.20am when reporters broke the postponement the news.

At University road, they expressed utter disgust and disappointment, alleging politicians of underhand motives. ‘’We have woken up this time. We are no longer going to eat free meals that would put us in troubles. We shall sweep them away at all costs,’’ some of the youths protested.

Mr. George Ojo, who was visibly angry, accused INEC of shoddy preparations.

He said: ‘’I have been here since 8 a.m but there had been no INEC official on ground. This is really a shame. If INEC is telling us, they don’t have enough materials, is it now they should know?”

Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) governorship candidate, Mohammed Dele Belgore(SAN) descended heavily on INEC for ‘’total lack of preparation’’.

He told reporters in his residence that it was regrettable that the commission did not provide necessary materials despite the quantum of resources and time made available.

Belgore said: ‘’We think that this is total lack of preparation on the part of INEC considering the enormous time and resources we have invested in this project. This is an astronomical loss, an avoidable wastage at a time many Nigerians could hardly feed’’.

He described the non-availability of sensitive materials such as the E8 form as ‘’school boys’ errors’’, adding ‘’these are fundamental mistakes that they are simply unpardonable’’.

Belgore expressed belief in the electoral process but said ‘’I am fast losing confidence in INEC’’.

‘’How in this modern age are you going to do election and it is the most sensitive material that is left out? How is it that after knowing the numbers of registered voters, you still turn out with materials less than them? These are schools boys’ errors and a slap on our sovereignty,’’ he added.

He tasked INEC to brace up ‘’because to whom much is given much is expected. INEC, he added, ‘’ has collected a lot of tax payers’ monies and it is time to deliver’’.

Belgore urged electorate not to be deterred, saying the struggle to change the nation and its leadership is worth all the inconveniencies.

The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Bukola Saraki, Mas’ud Adebimpe expressed shock over the postponement.

He said: ‘’this is an unexpected development because up to this morning, INEC was assuring us they were prepared. People were mobilised and determined to vote until this.

‘’I just hope apathy does not set in between now and when we hold the elections’’.

The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) also expressed shock.

Its Public Relations officer (PR0), Alhaji Abdulahi Oganija, in a statement, however said it ‘’is a recipe for free and fair election’’.

He added: ‘’If the delay in this election means we will have a credible poll, then we consider it a sacrifice. But we want to say that when it eventually holds, all necessary materials, especially Form EC8B, to be used to collate the election at the ward level must be sighted by our agents to give credibility to the poll”.

By 1pm, most traders opened for sales, saying it was pointless remaining indoors since the elections had been postponed.

By yesterday, feelers emerged there would be massive turn out of voters again for the rescheduled elections.

Most political parties were in clandestine meetings, frantically re-mobilising agents and engaging in aggressive door-to-door campaigns.