By Samuel Ogude(Warri)
The Delta State Governor and Vice Presidential candidate on the platform of PDP Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa and the candidate for Delta South Senatorial District on the platform of Nigerians People’s Party (NNPP) Commodore Omatseye Nesiama(rtd) have hailed Nigerians for peaceful elections. The duo who spoke at separate interviews after casting their votes in Egboma Primary School Ward 2, Unit 17 in Ika North East Local Government Area and Unit 3 ward 5 in Warri South Local Government Area respectively of Delta State said, Nigerians tried to have come in en-masse to cast their votes. Speaking specifically, Governor Okowa said, he is sure that the People’s Democratic Party will come out victorious in the election.
He said: “We are very sure that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP ) will win this election, we have done all the work needed to be done and we have spoken to Nigerians, we are truthful, we are not like others. PDP is a prepared team, a prepared party and we are ready to take charge over the affairs of Nigeria”
According to him, it is evident at the moment, Nigeria is not working the way it ought to be , hence the party is confident that working with all Nigerians, both the private and the public sectors, in a united manner, the poor economy, insecurity among others in the country is suffering from, would be tackled just as he said the education of Nigerians’ children which is key, would be taken care of. He expressed happiness over the way the election was done and thanked everyone to have gone about the elections peacefully. He also thanked INEC and the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria President Mohammadu Buhari for ensuring that there is peaceful election.
Okowa said, “The election as at now is going on very peacefully, I want to thank everyone, I have just cast my vote. The voting is very peaceful, everything is going on well. I must say thank you to INEC, and to Mr President for ensuring that this election is peaceful and fair”.
On his part, the candidate for Delta South Senatorial District on the platform of Nigeria New Nigeria’s Party, Commodore Omatseye Nesiama(rtd) expressed optimism of his victory in the election just as he hailed Nigerians for perseverance and eagerness to vote to change the narratives. Commodore Nesiama(rtd) said, the late arrival of electoral materials to the ward has posed lot of challenges to both the electorate and the INEC officials saying, despite this situation, many of the electorate are waiting and willing to cast their vote which shows that Nigerians have really woken up.
He said:” In this particular unit, despite the late arrival of electoral materials, many of the electorate said they would wait to vote, they are standing under the rain, this shows that Nigerians have really woken up”.
He said, although he could not judge where the elections would be a total success or failure until the entire processes are completed. According to him, reports reaching him are that, while in some areas, there are cases of lack of electoral materials to vote while others, ballot boxes have been snatched while in other areas, the result may be cancelled based on technical ground.
According to him, for now, he has not really seen any inducement in the election as everything went on as it ought to be which, according to him, is a good thing. He however said, he is being fed with reports of what goes on in senatorial districts. He said:” For now, I have not seen any form of inducement which is good but let us see how it would turn out to be”. He said everything being equal, he would win the election. He said:”My chances of winning are very bright but on the ground that everything ends well”.
Earlier in the hours of the day in Independent National Electoral Commission’s(INEC) liaison office in Warri in Warri South Local Government Area, INEC began the distribution of electoral materials to various polling units in Warri. Speaking to newsmen in his office, INEC Electoral Officer in Warri, Delta State, Mr. Kingsley Ogboi said that they started distribution of the materials as early as 5am for the day.
According to him, Warri South Local Government Area is a large place just as he said, there was rowdiness at his office with people moving in and out to their various Polling Units. He therefore advised politicians and voters to maintain peace and decorum to have peaceful elections saying that INEC was ready to their job. No doubt, there was heavy presence of security personnel to forestall the likely breakdown of law and order.