Early Results: ACN sets for victory in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo
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- Category: April 2011 Polls
- Published on Wednesday, 27 April 2011 05:48
- Written by Admin
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Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) supporters in the Southwest were in high spirits this morning, following the party’s performance in the governorship and House of Assembly elections. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to announce the results today.
The results will show a wide departure from the outcome of the April 16 presidential election in the zone won by President Goodluck Jonathan.
The party’s governorship candidates; Governor Babatunde Fashola (Lagos State), Senator Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun), and Senator Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); were also ahead of their opponents, according to the results coming in from local governments.
Collation was still going on as of 1.30a.m when this newspaper went to bed.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, however, collation was yet to begin at 1a.m. because no results had been brought from the local governments. The results had been ready as of 10p.m.
In Ondo State, the ruling Labour Party (LP) won 20 seats in the House of Assembly as at press time.
In Osun State, where the governorship election did not hold, ACN cleared all the 26 seat in the House of Assembly.
ACN was leading at the Senatorial, House of Representatives and House of Assembly elections in Ekiti State. There are 26 seats in the Assembly.
Returns from Ogun State showed that Amosun was set for victory. Our correspondent gathered that he may have won majority votes in Ogun Central, East and West Districts.
After casting his ballot at Abeokuta, the ACN flag bearer said that he was confident of victory.
Amosun said: “We can’t wait. It is like we won this election last year. Lo and behold, we have waited this far. Let me thank the good people of Ogun State in advance, I know they have voted for me and I’m going to win this election. God is on our side and the people are on our side.
“If this election is free and fair, I hope it is, I know it will not just be another victory but it will be a landslide for me, for ACN and other candidates of ACN we are voting for today.”
“We have 110 percent confidence. We are certain of victory. We are winning. It is confirmed in the resolve of the people for change. Everybody knows each other on the queue and are happy. They said today you can’t campaign, just go there and cast your vote.
“They been calling me, Baba, everybody is voting for you, please do everything possible to protect your votes. Don’t allow them to steal our votes this time around. We will tell them that what happened in 2007, we will not allow to happen in 2011.
“Not only that we have confidence in INEC, we have to commend them, they have been wonderful. In the initial elections, there were hiccups but to me, they have done well today and should be commended except for some politicians who are trying to be clever by half.
“People know that they can’t win this election and are resorting to something else. Today, I have learnt that they are paying as high as N10,000 per card being bought from voters. Even some called me to say Baba, we have collected their money, when we finish, we will use to buy beer in the evening.
“And I said, keep your money, take only coke and vote them out. They are giving out money in spite of the fact that, people are voting for ACN. Even some Youth Corpers and Presiding officers are being offered N50,000 each, but they know it will not be possible for them to cheat because our people are determined.
“They have caught about three or four persons with already thumb-printed ballot papers. We were wondering how did they managed to get those ones, some 50, others 60. It was just round figures. One was caught with 100 copies of thumb printed ballot papers.
“We know whatever they do to thwart the will of the good people of Ogun State, God Almighty will prevail and we will be elected. It is a matter of hours, some few hours more. I’m sure 12 hours from now, Ogun State will have a new Governor in Senator Ibikunle Amosun,” Amosun said.
INEC cancelled the result of Ogbomoso North constituency, citing irregularities and violence, it was learnt.
In Edo State, ACN won 20 of the 24 seats in the House.
However, Speaker, House of Assembly, Hon. Bright Omokhodion, lost to his PDP rival, Monday Orhue.
In Kano State, All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) governorship candidate, Mallam Salihu Sagir Takai, was ahead of his CPC and PDP rivals.
ANPP bounced back, after its crushing defeat at the presidential election, winning five seat in the House of Assembly. PDP won one seat. Other results were being collated as at 11pm yesterday. (The Nation)
