BY STEVE OGAH, SPECIAL ENVOY

Images by Steve Ogah

Today’s voting process in Nigeria’s presidential election left voters in different moods. There was excitement at some polling units where the voting process was hitch-free, while the late arrival of electoral officers and voting materials left several voters angry and frustrated at another polling unit in the Ifako-Ijaiye local government area of Lagos state.

At ward K, polling unit 025, Adelakun Shakirat, the Assistant Presiding Officer II from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), declared voters’ accreditation opened at 9:39 AM, a little over an hour behind the expected time. Thereafter, the unit had a smooth electoral process which left party agents and voters fulfilled.

“I am satisfied with this polling unit,” Oyekanmi Pelumi, a party agent from the Labor party said. He stated further, “there is no intimidation from anyone and there are no thugs here. Everywhere is calm and peaceful.”

Mrs. Adesanya Dupe, a party agent from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) also corroborated the Labor party’s statement, saying “There is no problem here. I am okay with this place. There is no one fomenting trouble.”

On her part, an NRM party agent also echoed the views of her counterparts from the other parties, while also commending INEC officials. Mrs. Adeshina Grace said, “I have seen my party’s logo on the ballot and I have no problem with what is going on here.”  Regarding the electoral officers, Mrs. Grace observed that “INEC staff are friendly and okay so far.”

In another interview, a male voter, Mr. Destiny Obazelu said: “Well, it’s going smoothly, and I am not sure there is any violent (sic) here.” Regarding the electoral officers, he said “They attended to me well. They are well-trained. The accreditation process was smooth and no problem with the BVAS (Bimodal Voter Accreditation System) machine.”

Ayinde Ifor is an elderly and satisfied voter. He said, “The voting is very smooth and peaceful.” Regarding the INEC officials, he stated, “They attend (sic) politely. Is cooperate (sic). The accreditation is not difficult, only the BVAS. When it doesn’t go, they use facial recognition.”

However, the electoral situation was different at Polling Unit 003, Ward 11, where there were no electoral officers or voting materials at 10:35 AM. A female police officer at the center refused to be interviewed or photographed. The absence of voting in this crowded unit left many voters angry and frustrated.

“I am very, very angry,” a voter, Esther Okeke, said. “I have been here since 7 AM. I will be very angry if I don’t vote because I am abiding by the law. I have to cast my vote.”

Mr. Bashiru Adebayo, another citizen at the polling center stated: “I got here around 9 O’clock. I met no staff. As you can see, nobody has come.” A visibly annoyed Adebayo further said, “I won’t be okay if I don’t vote today. I am supposed to exercise my rights.”

“This is embarrassing for INEC not being able to make it,” Mr. Innocent Aggrey said. “I came here by 8 AM. No INEC staff. This is 10:45. Everybody is patient, waiting for INEC,” the aggrieved voter further stated.

At 10:55 AM, the electoral officers for the center arrived on the scene in a yellow Volkswagen LT commercial bus. The presiding officer for the unit apologized, blaming the lateness on “motor issues.” Her spirited apologies did little to calm the crowd of angry voters who quickly formed two queues, preparatory to accreditation and voting.

The results of today’s electoral process, which also included candidates for the Senate and the federal House of Representatives, are expected out “speedily,” Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman has said in local media reports. And only then will Nigerians know if the ruling APC will retain power or if another party will take the reins of leadership in Africa’s most populous country.