Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode harped on the need to strictly adhere to one man one vote process to ensure the credibility of elections in Nigeria.
This is also as the governorship candidate of Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Lagos State, Owolabi Salis, has said he would only accept the results of today’s election if the process was free and seen to be fair.
Salis spoke with journalists at his Gbagada Estate Polling Unit 064, Inside Atunrase, accusing some parties of attempt to buy votes and influence voters at the polling unit.
The state governor, Ambode, who voted at Polling Unit 033, Papa Epe, his home town, at 10: 11am, after which he spoke with correspondents, said there was no better time to promote the culture of one man one vote in the country than now.
Ambode, who encouraged the residents to step out and cast votes, said it was in doing so that their well-being could be enhanced and also deepen good governance in the state.
“Voting has been peaceful thus far; the security agencies are actually at work and we are encouraging every Lagosian to come out and perform their civic obligations without threat or fear.
“I believe that in doing this we would continue to enhance the tenets of democracy and like you can see, we believe that with this, we are promoting the culture of one man one vote and then also improve on the State’s well-being and the good governance that we have always enjoyed in Lagos State.
“I’m happy that I have done this and I will do it again,” the governor said.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to address delays in arrival of election materials and staff in some centres in the state, saying such was necessary in view of the need to allow more voters to perform their civic obligations.
“I understand across the state voting is ongoing and somehow there have been reports of delays in some of these polling centres and we implore INEC to ensure that the voting materials and all the electoral staff come out quickly so that everybody can have the opportunity to perform their civic obligations,” he said.
Joshua Bassey
