29th March, 2015
Jamiu Yisa
The Minister of Foreign Affairs (2), Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, has expressed optimism that President Goodluck Jonathan would win Lagos.
Obanikoro, who got accredited at exactly 11:40 am and voted 2:15 pm, also praised the efforts of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Speaking with newsmen after casting his votes, he said though voting was peaceful at his ward, that 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 noted.
Obanikoro, who said he was satisfied with the process, noted that those who may have been denied voting as a result of malfunctioning card reader, may be allowed to vote today (Sunday), according to what INEC said before now.
“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.
Speaking on the security situation, Obanikoro said in some areas it has been peaceful, “but 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.”