Due to happenings across the country as the presidential poll commenced on Saturday across the country, the Minister of Foreign Affairs (2), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has revealed what will befall President Goodluck Jonathan in Lagos State.
The Minister, who got accredited at exactly 11:40 am and voted 2:15 pm, expressed optimism that President Jonathan would win Lagos.
He also praised the efforts of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the innovation with the card readers.
Obanikoro, who made this known while speaking with PM News correspondent after casting his votes, said though voting was peaceful at his ward, it does not mean it will be the same in other part of the states.
“But I want to sound a note of caution that the situation in other parts of Lagos is not what obtains here. There are issues around card reader malfunctioning and many people run the risk of been disenfranchised but we hope that INEC acts quickly on that. The entire country should not be turned into a guinea pig with these card readers. It should have been tested with smaller elections before being deployed for the presidential election,” he said.
The minister, who said he was satisfied with the process, added that those who may have been denied voting as a result of malfunctioning card reader, will be allowed to vote today (Sunday), based on what INEC had initially said.
“It depends on the number of card readers that malfunctions. If the numbers are huge, I mean those affected, then, there is problem. But if it is marginal, I think they can reconduct the election the next day. Hope not lost. What is happening is to take a cue from Ghana’s Presidential election few years ago, where thus who didn’t vote on the main date were allowed to vote the next day. But I don’t pray for that in Nigeria. It is the totality that will determine. If 25 per cent of people are marginalized across board, there will be need to review the process but if its marginal like two or three per cents, I think the society can gloss over that,” Obanikoro said.
The minister while speaking on the security situation across the state disclosed that in some areas it has been peaceful, but noted that “information from areas like Isale Eko, Epetedo, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Oshodi, Mushin and others in that category are challenged areas. So the presence of security forces would be appreciated.”
The spokesperson of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin has Faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, decision to use Card Reader for the elections.
The Minister, who got accredited at exactly 11:40 am and voted 2:15 pm, expressed optimism that President Jonathan would win Lagos.
He also praised the efforts of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the innovation with the card readers.
Obanikoro, who made this known while speaking with PM News correspondent after casting his votes, said though voting was peaceful at his ward, it does not mean it will be the same in other part of the states.
“But I want to sound a note of caution that the situation in other parts of Lagos is not what obtains here. There are issues around card reader malfunctioning and many people run the risk of been disenfranchised but we hope that INEC acts quickly on that. The entire country should not be turned into a guinea pig with these card readers. It should have been tested with smaller elections before being deployed for the presidential election,” he said.
The minister, who said he was satisfied with the process, added that those who may have been denied voting as a result of malfunctioning card reader, will be allowed to vote today (Sunday), based on what INEC had initially said.
“It depends on the number of card readers that malfunctions. If the numbers are huge, I mean those affected, then, there is problem. But if it is marginal, I think they can reconduct the election the next day. Hope not lost. What is happening is to take a cue from Ghana’s Presidential election few years ago, where thus who didn’t vote on the main date were allowed to vote the next day. But I don’t pray for that in Nigeria. It is the totality that will determine. If 25 per cent of people are marginalized across board, there will be need to review the process but if its marginal like two or three per cents, I think the society can gloss over that,” Obanikoro said.
The minister while speaking on the security situation across the state disclosed that in some areas it has been peaceful, but noted that “information from areas like Isale Eko, Epetedo, Alimosho, Ikorodu, Oshodi, Mushin and others in that category are challenged areas. So the presence of security forces would be appreciated.”
The spokesperson of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin has Faulted the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, decision to use Card Reader for the elections.
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