29th March, 2015
Biodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has declared that there was sabotage from the Independent National Electoral Commission,INEC as several large wards in the State, harbouring sympathisers of the All Progressives Congress,APC could not vote yesterday because they did not have permanent voter cards.
The governor said INEC deliberately disenfranchised the voters in the State.
Among the areas disenfranchised were Ward 11 in Abeokuta North local government and Sabo in Sagamu, where majority of the residents are of northern origin. Ward 11 usually returns the highest number of votes in past elections, votes even bigger than total tallies in some local councils.
“it is clear that some people,some where have decided to disenfranchise many of our people from exercising their civic right.
“How could one explain the game that had played out. Could you believe that in ward 11 in Abeokuta North,which is the largest polling unit in the State,no one voted in that place? That unit is bigger that some local government areas.
“Also,in ward 5 and 7 in Sagamu which was predominantly Hausa base,there was no PVC for the people in the area to participate in the election.
“Let me say this,if voting is done in that area hundred times,we will be winning there. In the last election that took me in into office,larger votes came out from that areas and with the development now,some people, some where are sabotaging our people, We can see that but God is greater than them”,the governor said.
The governor wondered why the State cards were delivered piecemeal when other States got theirs once.
He expressed foul play from some people,but added that he would get to the root of the matter.
Amosun however appealed to those concerned to maintain calm as the situation will be looked into.