Obasanjo-Bello, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, was not sighted during the accreditation of voters and voting process at her Ward 11, Polling Unit 15, African Church Grammar School , Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta, where she voted during the parliamentary elections.
It was unclear why the senator, who lost to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) senatorial candidate, Gbenga Obadara, was absent at her ward.
Monitoring conducted at various polling centres in Abeokuta showed that many prospective voters stayed in-doors while there was heavy presence of soldiers and policemen at strategic locations.
But fielding questions shortly after casting his vote at Ward 11, Unit 14, Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta , Obasanjo said based on his experience, a presidential election could only attract large turnout when people close to candidates contesting elections are excited.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who arrived the polling centre at 12.35 p.m. in company of his wife, Bola, however expressed optimism that Saturday’s presidential election would end “ethnic politics” in the country.
Obasanjo said notwithstanding the apparent low turnout, the election was generally peaceful and orderly, urging Nigerians to continue to embrace peace during and after the polls.
He said, “I believe to all of us in Nigeria today is a day of victory. Because once we have an election to elect a new President, and we go about it in a peaceful way and at the end of it, a candidate emerges, elected, it is victory for all Nigerians. And, of course, the party that its candidate wins, it is double victory for such a party.
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