House Of Reps Candidate Vows Court Action As Ibeju-Lekki Votes

Tayo Olanipekun

Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ibeju-Lekki Federal Constituency in the last National Assembly elections,  Prince Wasiu Elemoro, has vowed to challenged the outcome of that exercise in court.

While rejecting the outcome of the February 23, 2019 House of Representatives election in which the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bayo Balogun, was declared winner, Elemoro commended his party supporters for standing with the PDP, as he also expressed optimism in the outcome of today’s elections.

He spoke with National Wire after visiting the Iwerekun II polling unit 001, located at the premises of LG School,Bogije, some 20 kilometres to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, where the voting exercise took place.

He cited “INEC manipulations, malfunctioning card readers and complaints from party supporters” as major characteristics of the election he described as “the worst so far in this country.”

According to him, “Ibeju-Lekki didn’t vote Bayo Balogun. Today is even better. I’ve never seen a worse election than this. The election will be challenged.”

When our Correspondent visited some Polling Stations around Ibeju-Lekki, it was observed that elections did not commence at the polling units at Alatishe by 9:07 am.

Only a few voters were seen present while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad hoc staff were also waiting for a canopy to be hoisted for them.

The situation was the same at the Iwerekun II, polling unit 002, located at Shapati, where voting started at 10: 02 am and 634 and 641 accredited voters were to cast their ballots in the Governorship and House of Assembly polls respectively.

Election officials were just getting set for the exercise at 9:40 am and the Assistant Presiding Officer, simply identified as Yusuff, explained that chairs and tables were just provided them at around 9 am.

One of the law enforcement agents comprising the Police and Civil Defence present, Ikpomwonsa Ihiesu, a police officer, was seen warning party agents against coming to spy on the voters.

However, the LG school Bogije witnessed a large turn out of voters with nine voting centres within the premises but evidence of vote buying and peeping through voter’s ballot papers from the back were also sighted as the voting cubicles were not used.

Names like Lemomu and Ajetunmobi were mentioned as those of the people at the backstage where voters were directed for payments after casting their ballots.

The party agent were also heard talking in hush tones about voters they were bringing in to cast their votes for a political party and the need to direct them.