There was mass turnout of voters for the presidential poll yesterday amid heavily armed security men, who were stationed at strategic points, and searched motorists to ensure there was no security breach.
But contrary to the National Assembly election on April 9, the balloting was held in a relatively peaceful and more organised atmosphere. As early as 8am, accreditation had started in most parts of Lagos State and other neighbouring states, while actual voting began between 12 and 12.30pm as specified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Despite pockets of irregularities and violence, including alleged ballot snatching and late arrival of materials reported in some parts of the country, officials and electoral materials from the INEC generally arrived early in most of the polling units, with accreditation and actual voting process kicking of in good time.
President Goodluck Jonathan voted in his Otueke, Bayelsa State hometown, arriving at the polling station at 12.31pm, and voted at 12.35pm.
Jonathan, accompanied by his family members, fielded questions from journalists, saying that he had offered himself as "an experiment" in the conduct of free and fair elections in the country.
He said he would vacate office if he lost in yesterday's election.
Kano State Governor and presidential candidate of the ANPP, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, appealed to his fellow presidential candidates to accept the results of the poll. He spoke shortly before casting his vote in Kano.
Vice President Namadi Sambo did his accreditation exercise at Camp Road Ward amid jeers from several supporters of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
A re-enforcement of armed policemen and the strike force unit of the State Security Services (SSS) ensured that there was no breakdown of law and order. Sambo had arrived at the polling unit at 11.40am for accreditation.
Presidential flag bearer of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Bashorun Dele Momodu, in the company of his wife, Bolaji, was accredited at the Wasinmi Community School 2, Maryland Estate, Lagos polling centre at 11.30am. He cast his vote at exactly 12.45pm.
There was a massive turnout of voters for the presidential poll in Kano State. Heavily armed security men, who were sighted at strategic points, searched motorists to ensure there was no security breach.
At the Government House Polling Centre early in the morning, hundreds of voters took turns to get accredited in preparation for the actual voting which, commenced by 12.30 pm.
However, there was voter apathy in parts of Ondo State, probably due to the fact that the dominant Labour party in the state did not field any candidate for the election.
Governor Olusegun Mimiko, who had directed the people of the state to vote President Jonathan's Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had cause to explain his position yesterday afternoon when it became clear that the directive had elicited disenchantment from the people.
Minister of Defence, Adetokunbo Kayode, at his polling unit in Ikaram-Akoko, Akoko North West Council of Ondo State, said that lack of "local touch" was responsible for low turnout of voters.
Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ondo State, Mr. Akin Orebiyi, described the smooth and peaceful electoral process as a positive development and an encouraging signal to all Nigerians that the people want to embrace change. He decried the low turn out of voters in the state, stating that the commission did its best to sensitise the people on the need to exercise their civic responsibility.
Also, the commissioner of police in the state, Mr. Joseph Ibi, said the credit for the success of the polls goes to all the security agencies that are collaborating with the police to ensure that there were hitch-free polls.
However, governoship candidate of the ACN in Kwara State, Mohammed Dele Belgore, linked the voter apathy observed in Ilorin to intimidation and harassment of the opposition by the ruling parties across the states.
According to him, low voter turnout could also be linked to lack of direct involvement of stakeholders in the presidential elections in the state. In an interview at his Isale-Ajanaku, Ilorin South Ward, Belgore noted that civil servants, traditional rulers and voters have been goaded to support the ruling party in the presidential elections.
In areas monitored in Kwara, including the Emir Road and Agbaji, the traditional stations, arriving INEC officials and electoral materials arrived on time.
Security operatives, including men of the Mobile Police Force were seen parading the town as well as the polling stations.
Governor Bukola Saraki was accredited at exactly 10.12am. He also called on presidential candidates to accept the result of the polls in with the spirit of sportsmanship.
Source: Shekarau, Saraki, Others Urge Spirit Of Sportsmanship (http://ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=45109:shekarau-saraki-others-urge-spirit-of-sportsmanship&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)