#Election2023: Osinbajo, Abiodun laud INEC as Obasanjo absent

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and his predecessor, Ibikunle Amosun, have described the ongoing governorship and Houses of Assembly elections in the state as peaceful and pleasant.

Osinbajo, while speaking to newsmen after casting his vote at Ward I, Unit 14 at the Egunrege Polling Centre in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, on Saturday, said he was able to cast his votes without any problem.

“I have come here to vote and observe that the exercise has been peaceful and pleasant.

“My own polling booth here is excellent and I think everything is peaceful and the whole process has been conducted very well. I just hope and pray that this is how it is being carried out across the nation.

“It has been a very pleasant experience that I was able to cast my vote and also so many people have been able to cast their votes,” the Vice President stated.

Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo, who arrived at the polling centre at about 10.31 a.m., voted at about 10.38 a.m.

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Governor Abiodun, in his reaction after casting his vote at Ward 5, Unit 11, Ita-Osanyin area of Ikenne LGA, said everything has been going on relatively well.

“I want to thank INEC for this improvement in the process, though this election was postponed by a week.

“I want to commend the commission for being able to resolve the issues of litigations and the reconfiguration of the BVAS.

“It is my hope that the situation here at my polling unit is what is obtainable everywhere else.

“Until we get field reports, I cannot really comment on what is happening across the state. I hope everything will go peacefully,” he said.

Also, Amosun, who voted at Ward 6 Unit 8, Ita Gbangba in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State, commended INEC for “improved process”.

“I think, it is slightly better and more organised compared to the presidential elections.

“When I came during the presidential poll, the atmosphere was not this conducive because of agitations from voters over non-functional BVAS.

“I had to find a way to make it conducive. But now, the BVAS is working, the last time I came, I had to wait for about two hours,” the former governor said.

Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was absent at his Ward 11, Unit 22, Ilusomi Compound, Sokori in Abeokuta North LGA, where he usually votes.

When contacted, Obasanjo’s media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, said the former Vice President travelled out of the country 10 days before the election.

Akinyemi said Obasanjo, who was on an international assignment, was billed to return on Friday.

“Chief Obasanjo travelled outside the country on international assignment, 10 days ago, to India, U.S, and UK.

“He was supposed to return back to the country yesterday, March 17, but he could not make it,” he disclosed.

The Star