Politics
NBA: Voter Satisfaction Rates At 64.6% Despite Criticisms
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has released an interim report on the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25. According to the report, despite criticisms of the elections, a majority of voters approximately 64.6 percent expressed satisfaction with the exercise.
However, the NBA has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take necessary measures to address the technical issues encountered during the elections.
Specifically, the association has called on INEC to fix any glitches in the BVAS machines and other election technology before the upcoming governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has released its Interim Report on the presidential and National Assembly elections held on February 25. The report provides a summary of the entire exercise, which resulted in the election of Bola Tinubu, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the president-elect.
Despite the outcome, the election has received widespread criticism from both local and international observers for falling short of expectations. As a result, two of the candidates, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), have initiated the process of challenging the results.
In the interim report signed by NBA president, Mr Yakubu Maikyau, the association expressed “some satisfaction with the conduct of the election on February 25, 2023”. However, it said the body “also identified major challenges that should be addressed for future elections”.
Maikyau, in the report, identified several challenges encountered during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
These challenges included the late arrival of INEC officials and ballot materials at the polling stations, malfunctioning BVAS machines, limited or non-transmission of results from polling units to the INEC Results Viewing Portal (IReV), insecurity at some polling units, including violent attacks on voters and officials, voter intimidation, snatching and destruction of voting materials, significant cases of vote-buying, and limited access facilities for persons living with disabilities.
According to the NBA president, findings generally from the association’s observers “indicated that only a quarter of the electorate were excellently impressed with the conduct of the ballots (27.1%) while majority of the voters (64.6%) were somewhat satisfied, and that, only 8.2% rated the election poor or very poor.
“Stemming from these observations and in view of the impending governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections fixed for 11th March, 2023 (now shifted to March 18), the NBA urges INEC to ensure that all bugs or glitches in the BVAS machines and other election technology are fixed and improved and that INEC staff (including collation and returning officers) with proven cases of misconduct in the February 25, 2023 election are excluded from the March 11, 2023 (now March 18, 2023) election.
The NBA further commends Nigerians for their resilience and perseverance in carrying out their civic duties during the presidential and National Assembly elections and encourages citizens to show same values and resolve in the forthcoming governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections.” he added.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of spending over N35 billion to induce voters in the recently concluded Ondo State governorship election.
The accusation came shortly after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared APC’s candidate, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, as the winner.
At precisely 2:29 pm on Saturday, INEC’s Returning Officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi, announced Aiyedatiwa’s victory, with the incumbent securing 366,781 votes.
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His closest rival, PDP’s Agboola Ajayi, garnered 117,845 votes, while Adeyemi Nejo of the African Democratic Party placed third with 4,138 votes.
In a press statement following the announcement, Olaniyi Ogungbuji, the PDP State Collation Agent, criticized the APC’s campaign methods, alleging widespread vote-buying.
“This is the end result of the election, but I can tell you that APC as a party deployed over N35bn into inducing the electorate. If this is the future of this nation, we are doomed for it,” Ogungbuji said.
Ogungbuji also raised concerns about the failure of elections to take place in certain polling units in Idanre Local Government Area.
However, these concerns were dismissed during the collation process. The PDP agent hinted that the party and Ajayi would deliberate on the next steps in the coming days.
Meanwhile, APC’s State Agent, Ade Adeogun, strongly rejected the PDP’s accusations, labeling them as unfounded and an attempt to explain away their electoral loss.
“You need to understand that throughout this electioneering period, we even complained that Ondo State was over-policed. If they had any genuine evidence, they should have reported it to the security agencies. Those involved in vote buying would have been arrested,” Adeogun stated.
He also dismissed the allegations as “flippant excuses,” emphasizing that elections should be won based on merit, not claims without proof.
“Without evidence, you can’t just go around and make flippant excuses,” he said. “They lost woefully, and they’re looking for a straw to hold onto.”
Adeogun further stated that the PDP’s complaints were simply a result of their defeat, adding, “Let them weep; they lost woefully. They didn’t deserve to win.”
As tensions continue to simmer, both parties remain locked in a bitter dispute over the results of the Ondo governorship election, with the PDP considering legal action in the days to come.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the Ondo State governorship election held on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
Aiyedatiwa secured a decisive victory, polling 366,781 votes to defeat his closest rival, Mr. Agboola Ajayi of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who garnered 117,845 votes.
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The APC swept all 18 local government areas of the state in a dominant performance that underscored its stronghold in Ondo.
The results were announced at INEC’s State Headquarters in Akure by the collation officer, Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi.
“Having satisfied the requirements of the law and scored the highest number of votes, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the APC is hereby declared the winner of the Ondo State governorship election,” Prof. Akinwunmi stated.
Breakdown of Results by Local Government Areas:
1. Akure North: APC 14,451 | PDP 5,787
2. Akure South: APC 32,969 | PDP 17,926
3. Okitipupa: APC 26,811 | PDP 10,233
4. Ose: APC 16,555 | PDP 4,472
5. Owo: APC 31,914 | PDP 4,740
6. Akoko Northeast: APC 25,657 | PDP 5,072
7. Akoko Northwest: APC 25,010 | PDP 5,502
8. Akoko Southeast: APC 12,140 | PDP 2,692
9. Akoko Southwest: APC 29,700 | PDP 5,517
10. Ondo West: APC 20,755 | PDP 6,387
11. Ondo East: APC 8,163 | PDP 2,843
12. Ile Oluji/Oke-Igbo: APC 16,600 | PDP 4,442
13. Idanre: APC 9,114 | PDP 8,940
14. Irele: APC 17,117 | PDP 6,601
15. Ifedore: APC 14,157 | PDP 5,897
16. Ilaje: APC 24,474 | PDP 3,623 | LP 176
17. Ese Odo: APC 14,511 | PDP 7,814
18. Odigbo: APC 26,683 | PDP 9,348
The Labour Party (LP) and the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) trailed far behind, with LP securing 1,162 votes and ZLP 2,692 votes across the state.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s victory cements the APC’s grip on Ondo State politics.
The governor-elect has promised to focus on economic development, improved infrastructure, and youth empowerment.
“This victory is not just for the APC but for every citizen of Ondo State. Together, we will build a brighter future,” Aiyedatiwa said in his acceptance speech.
The election, which was monitored by domestic and international observers, was largely peaceful, with only minor logistical challenges reported.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has swept all 18 local government areas in the Ondo State Governorship Election, maintaining a significant lead over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) resumed collation of results after a recess to allow the arrival of results from the remaining local governments, Ilaje and Ese Odo.
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Collation Officer Prof. Olayemi Akinwunmi explained, “I think we can just adjourn till 12 noon please. Two remaining local governments are not here yet, so we adjourn till 12 noon. The local governments, Ilaje and Ese Odo, are very far, so we need to give them time to arrive.”
While APC recorded victories across all announced results, the collation process faced a brief dispute in Idanre Local Government.
The PDP’s agent alleged issues of vote-buying, ballot box snatching, and the absence of elections in some areas.
He urged the returning officer to reject the results from Idanre, but no resolution was immediately provided.
INEC National Commissioner Prof. Kunle Ajayi, speaking earlier in Akure, reassured citizens that the results would be concluded and announced without delay.
“I can assure you that until we declare the winner, we won’t leave here. We will wait until the last local government before we leave. I don’t have any fear that even by 6 am, maybe everything would have been over,” Prof. Ajayi stated.
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