By Kayode Abdulazeez, Ilorin
There was a massive turnout of voters in Kwara State as electorates joyfully cast votes to elect the successor of president Mohammadu Buhari and their next representatives at the National Assembly.
Although, the election which was scheduled to commence at 8:30 am began around some minutes after 10 am due to the late arrival of INEC officers.
At polling unit 004 in Adewole Ward of Ilorin West, Kwara central senatorial district, where Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq cast his vote, the INEC officers arrived at 10:24 am along with election materials.
The Governor expressed concerns about reports of BVAS machines not working in some locations, commended the professionalism of the security agencies and large turnouts of voters, urged people to remain calm and peaceful, and expressed optimism about the APC emerging victorious at the polls.
Also in Oro Ward 2 in Irepodun local government area of Kwara South senatorial district where the Minister of information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed cast his a vote, the election commenced by 8 am.
The Minister who arrived at the polling unit around 11: 15 am waited in queue patiently for almost one hour before he cast his vote.
Commended the turnout of people, “The election has been very peaceful, but what has struck me with the turnout the young, the old, men and women all came out to cast their votes. I think you can see the determination and resolve on the faces of all the voters”
At Ajikobi Ward in Ilorin West polling unit 006 where the senate president voted, the election also start behind schedule.
The former senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki after casting his vote express worry over the lateness in the commencement of the exercise but express satisfaction with the conduct.
At Shao, Moro local government area of Kwara North senatorial district, polling unit 014 in Isale Are, where our Correspondent spoke with Chief Wole Oke, APC chieftain and former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly said the BVAs could not recognize his fingerprint and he was asked to come back.
Also, in Shao, a House of Assembly candidate of PDP for Oloru, Malete, Ipaye constituency, prince Abdulazeez Ademola Adegbite, at polling unit 004, said “the manner and procees in which voters registers was brought in was unorganised and this almost cause confusion but at the end everything was calm and BVAS working fine. We hope to have a true result at the end”.
At Shonga, Kachita polling unit of Edu local government area of Kwara North senatorial district where the Governorship candidate of PDP, Alh Yaman Abdullahi, vote, the election commenced at 8:55 am.
Also in polling unit 031, Ode-olowo, Abayawo, Ilorin West LGA, where the Hon. Federal Commissioner, National Population Commission, NPC, Alhaji AbdulRazak Folorunsho Gidado, the election commenced around 9:40 am and the election went peacefully.
Meanwhile, the case was different in some areas of the Ilorin metropolis, in polling unit 005 Magaji ngeri of Ilorin West local government where a candidate of PDP for Federal House of Representative voted, the ballot papers brought by an INEC officer for House of Representative election was lesser than that of senatorial and presidential and this led to protest and INEC eventually brought more ballot paper and further extend the election in that polling unit to 6 pm.
Also in polling unit 045 Oganija in Oke-Apomu in Ilorin West, the election time was extended to 6 pm due to the late arrival of more ballot papers for the House of Representatives election.
At the expressway of Bode-Saadu to Jebba, hundreds of trailers were stooped from passing through by security personnel comprising Army and Road Safety.
Speaking with our correspondent one of the truck driver, AbdulSemiu AbdulSalam, who said to be coming from Lagos and heading to Kaduna said “we have been stooped here since 12 am midnight of yesterday by the security personnel. (Army) We could not cross over to go and vote at home.
