NAN – The PDP and APGA candidates in the 2016 Federal Capital Territory (FCT) council election in Bwari on Saturday commended INEC for the smooth conduct of the election in the area. The candidates spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bwari, Bwari Council Area of the FCT.
They expressed satisfaction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over conduct of election in the area. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship candidate, Mr. Simon Gwani, opined that INEC had improved in terms of standard in the conduct of the election.
He noted that accreditation and voting commenced early at Igu ward where he voted.
“We thank INEC for its improvement on electoral process, whereby you can now be accredited and also cast your vote at the same time.
“Here in Igu ward, accreditation started at 8. 30a.m. and till election was concluded there was no problem of any sort, particularly on use of the card reader device.
“The electioneering process was smoothly carried out and the turnout also was impressive; there was no issue of voters apathy,“ Gwani said.
He urged the electorate to accept the outcome of the election in good faith, saying “election is not a do-or-die affair. “
He advised the electorate to shun acts of violence, adding that it could affect democratic processes negatively.
“Do not indulge in electoral violence as a means of expressing your grievances because that can impede the growth of our nascent democracy, “ he said.
In an interview, Mr Anyanwu Francis, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Councillorship candidate for Ushafa ward, said that INEC should sustain its efforts aimed at conducting credible election.
According to him, INEC should do more to improve on the previous electoral process. “We believe that INEC has put measures on ground to conduct a hitch free election, but we look forward to an improvement from what we have now.
“We know them for their integrity at least judging by what we saw in the last election; we hope that they will replicate same this time or even do better.
“Our party expects improvement in the commission’s performance during the FCT council polls,“ Francis said.
NAN reports that attempt to interview Mr Musa Dikko, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate, did not yield any result because he refused to speak with newsmen.
