Nigeria Content Online

A mild protest
occurred at Ward 5, Unit 2, Ijemo-Eleja Polling Centre in Abeokuta,
Ogun State. Voters at the unit were not happy with the announcement
from officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
that their register was missing.

The officials had
told the voters that the previous voter register could not be located,
hence, the need to use a new one. The voters insisted on using the old
register. They further said voting will not take place at the unit
unless the old register was produced. It took the intervention of the
police before the situation was brought under control, while the INEC
officials had to be smuggled out of the area by the security agents.

In Odelemo town of
Sagamu Local Government, a party leader and six others were apprehended
for alleged electoral offences. The suspects were said to have stormed
a polling booth, scattering the ballot boxes around in an attempt to
frustrate the exercise. The Ogun Sate Commissioner of Police, Olayinka
Balogun confirmed the incident and subsequent arrest.

Satisfied with conduct of poll

Meanwhile, former
President Olusegun Obasanjo has commended the conduct of the election.
Mr Obasanjo who spoke with journalists in his Ita-Eko voting centre, in
Abeokuta said: “You know in this particular voting unit, the first,
second and the third, it has been peaceful, orderly and of course the
turnout has been more or less in line with average national turnout
throughout the country.” He also spoke about the post-election riot in
the northern part of the country. “We need to educate ourselves and we
need to understand what is happening. There are changes taking place in
Nigeria and those changes have to be internalised by all of us and we
have to adjust to those changes.” The Ogun State governor, Gbenga
Daniel speaking with journalists after casting his vote in Sagamu,
lauded the general high turnout of voters. He however, decried the role
of money in the democratic process saying the practice would not allow
politics of ideas to take root in the country.

“It is time for us
to make the process more credible by ensuring that only people of ideas
who have genuine interest of the people and country at heart are voted
for. Nigerians should not allow moneybags to take over the process.

“In Ogun State
there are three strong parties which have worked very hard and I’m sure
that at the end of the day a winner will emerge. I do not think there
would be a run off. The three parties have enough spread and the party
with the simple majority will win.” Mr Daniel said.

Olusegun Osoba,
former Ogun State governor said: “I am very happy that the presiding
officers came on time today. It has not been happening like that in the
past. They have been there very early today and that has helped to make
the process of accreditation much easier.

“I am quite
satisfied with the process. I discovered that Nigerians are now
determined to ensure that their votes count,” he added.