Mr Arobiewe Abogun, PDP Candidate for Saturday’s Eti-Osa Constituency I bye-election in Lagos State, has lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Abogun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the conclusion of voting in his Igbo-Efon Community that the election was `reasonably peaceful’.
He said that although he heard of some disturbances in some areas, such cases were isolated.
Abogun said that an election should not be a do-or -die affair, promising to accept the outcome of the election.
“In my domain here, the conduct of the exercise was peaceful and credible, and it is fair. I commend INEC and everybody for that.
“However, there were some negative reports from some areas such as Ogombo, where agents of our party were sent out of polling units by some people.
“I think that, apart from that, the election was largely peaceful,” he said.
The candidate said that the PDP was a strong party in the area, and expressed optimism of victory.
In the same vein, the state chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) lauded the peaceful conduct of the election.
Lagos State IPAC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Malam Shakirudeen Olofin, told NAN that the election was largely peaceful in most areas.
“The only problem was that there was voter apathy. People did not turn out as expected.
“We think INEC didn’t do much publicity in that respect and so many people were not carried along.
“We advise that the electoral commission should prepare better for future elections to avert this kind of situation,” he urged.
NAN reports that the bye-election was to fill a vacant seat resulting from the death of the lawmaker representing the area, Mr Kazeem Alimi.