Kwara LG Election: Material Shortage, Late Arrival Of Officials, Voters Frustration Mar Polls  * No election took place in Offa- PDP candidate * APC member allegedly arrested for attempted ballot box snatching in Warah * PDP reportedly in early lead in Ilorin, Patigi  * protest against KWSIEC officials in Share  *PDP Chieftain, Ebun Owolabi condems process in Ekiti 

By Omowumi Omotosho, Kazeem Abdulateef and Mutiat Olarewaju

Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, witnessed a relatively peaceful atmosphere in the ongoing local government elections. However, widespread reports of electoral material shortages, delayed arrival of officials, and protests by frustrated voters marred the process across several wards of the state.

At 9:03 AM, at Mogaji Ward 007, there was no sign of officials from the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC). Despite the calm, security operatives remained stationed, awaiting the commencement of voting. By the time NationPilot reporters visited the Agbo Oba polling unit 006 around 10:30 am Saturday, it was discovered that only 600 ballot papers had been provided for a voter register of over 700, sparking concerns among the electorate.

In Ubandawaki polling unit 001, the situation grew more troubling as KWASIEC officials failed to present essential election materials, including ballot papers and report sheets. A total of 750 ballots were expected, but only 400 arrived by 1 PM. The shortage left voters stranded, as some polling units, like Palace polling units 010, 011, and 012, remained scarcely attended by electoral officials even by 11:32 AM.

At polling unit 004 in the Akosin area of Shawo Central, Offa Local Government, only 300 ballot papers were delivered to 833 registered voters. Electorates refused to begin voting until additional ballot papers were provided, further delaying the process.

A similar scenario unfolded in Ayetoro Zone under Oko-Erin Ward, where elections were halted due to severe ballot shortages. Only 50 ballot sheets were available at polling unit 025, while unit 049 received a mere 10.

At Adewole Ward, Oke Agodi Zone, Unit 006, disorderliness due to shortage of ballot papers and missing Form E8 was initially reported. However, after resolving these issues, the election proceeded peacefully.

The situation across Ajikobi Ward, Ilorin West Local Government, was equally dire, where voters at 69 polling booths halted the election process at 11:11 AM due to inadequate materials. At Kangusu polling unit 020, Warah Osin in Egbejila Ward, electoral officials were still absent, leaving voters in limbo.

In Share, Ifelodun Local Government, voters took to the streets in protest, chanting “Ole, Ole” (Thief, Thief) as they accused KWASIEC officials of deliberately withholding ballot papers to manipulate the election in favor of certain candidates. Across the state, voters expressed frustration over what they termed a rigged process, with many alleging that fraudulent figures would be added during collation.

However, the Offa chapter of the People’s Democratic Party in a statement signed by the Chairmanship Candidate for Offa Local Government, Hon. Comr. Salahudeen A. Lukman, it was reavealed no election took place in Offa on Saturday due to severe logistical failures.

Lukman declared that despite the election being scheduled to commence at 8:00 AM, by 1:00 PM, voting materials had yet to arrive at 95% of the polling units across the 173 units in the area. Where materials were delivered, ballot papers were incomplete, and result sheets were missing entirely.

The Offa local government PDP Candidate therefore called on KWASIEC to address these issues and reschedule the election in a transparent and timely manner, ensuring the people of Offa can participate in a credible election.

“We call on the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWASIEC) to urgently address these

issues and reschedule the election in a transparent and timely manner to ensure that the people of Offa can participate in a free, fair, and credible

election,” Lukman Stated.

This press statement amplified existing concerns about the credibility of the elections across Kwara State, especially as other regions reported similar logistical failures.

Also, in Offa Local Government, Mr. Adeyemi Kolapo, a resident of Ojomu Central, revealed that only 100 ballot papers were provided for polling units with over 500 registered voters. A local education board employee, who wished to remain anonymous, alleged that the shortages were intentional, claiming that KWASIEC officials planned to manipulate figures at collation centers.

At the Ode-Isowo polling unit, Alhaji Mustapha Ishowo, the State Secretary for the All Progressives Congress (APC), was reportedly posing as an Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observer. Voters at the unit had earlier refused to participate when only 300 ballots were made available for over 900 registered voters. Ishowo was also accused of attempting to bribe voters with rice and money in the lead-up to the election. Protesters at the scene called for his arrest, accusing him of impersonation and voter intimidation.

Meanwhile, Hon. Ebun Owolabi, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), publicly condemned the election process in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State. Owolabi stated that no elections were held in the area, raising concerns about the integrity and legitimacy of the entire local government polls.

“In Ekiti local government, they came, KWASIEC came with some ballots papers without any result sheet. How do we cast vote without a result sheet? And I went around to check, they only came with typing sheets.

“How do we use ordinary typing sheets to record? It means manipulation is easy, with it. And we felt we must see a result sheet for collation where all the party agents will sign to attest to the fact that all the things are correct. So that is the situation, and because of that we did not vote, as far as the Ekiti local government is concerned, because they never brought the necessary materials for us to vote.

“I was at SDA, I met the police officer there, and discovered that the police officer was not on top of the matter. And there and then they started attacking our people, and they specifically attacked our chairmanship candidate, who is presently lying critically ill in the hospital. They broke his leg, he’s right in the hospital.

They did not allow us to vote, they wanted to do it by force, but the bottom line is that we have refused to allow them to do what they wanted to do.” She said.

This statement contradicts earlier claims made by KWASIEC that the elections were proceeding smoothly across all 16 local government areas and 193 wards of Kwara State. Owolabi’s allegations point to potential irregularities that further undermine the credibility of the process.

Despite the delays in the electioneering process, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reportedly taken an early lead in Patigi Local Government, winning key polling units by significant margins. While official results are yet to be announced, the early victories give the PDP a strong foothold as the election progresses.

In Ojuekun/Zarumi Ward, it was alleged that KWASIEC added two extra polling units without prior notice, raising concerns about transparency.

In the Ajikobi center ward, at 10:37 AM, 25 out of 69 polling units had returned incomplete materials to the collation center at Ansarul Islam Primary School, as voters registered their dissatisfaction.

In Irepodun Local Government it was alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) hijacked the local government elections with the alleged cooperation of KWASIEC. Reports indicate that KWASIEC officials arrived very late at their assigned wards and, upon arrival, refused to drop off the result sheets. Additionally, the ballot papers provided did not tally with the voters’ registers, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the election process in the area.

Also, a dramatic incident occurred at Warah/Osin/Egbejila ward when a woman, allegedly a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was arrested for attempting to steal the ballot box at polling unit 002 in Warah. In a desperate bid, she allegedly poured water over the entire box, destroying the contents and bringing the exercise to an abrupt halt. This act of sabotage further heightened tensions in the ward, with voters demanding justice for the ruined election materials.

Throughout Kwara State, voters voiced their frustration with the electoral process, condemning KWASIEC for its failure to provide adequate materials and maintain transparency. Allegations of rigging, voter suppression, and deliberate material shortages plagued the day, with many calling the election a “waste” and a betrayal of the democratic process.

Despite the challenges, some polling units, like Balogun Fulani Ward 2 and Isale Maliki in Ilorin South Local Government, reported peaceful voting processes. Security personnel remained on the ground throughout the day, ensuring that voters who managed to cast their ballots did so in an orderly manner.

Despite the allegations and irregularities, results from some polling units began to emerge. In Ubandawaki Ward, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) secured a win over APC:

Chairmanship Result:

PDP – 64

APC – 50

Councilorship Result:

PDP – 62

APC – 50

Similarly, results from the Adabata polling units in Baba Oro showed a tight contest between the two major parties:

ODE BABA ORO – 010, Councilorship Result:

PDP – 55

APC – 54

Chairmanship Result:

PDP – 59

APC – 55

ODE BABA ORO – 041, Councilorship Result:

PDP – 48

APC – 35

Chairmanship Result:

PDP – 45

APC – 37

Moreover, an 87-year-old woman named Abigail Awogbemi, who trekked from Gaa Akanbi to Taiwo Isale in Ilorin, disclosed to Nationalpilot that she voted for the future of her children.

” I am voting because of my children; if the situation improves, my children will benefit from it. I trekked from CAC Gaa Akanbi to cast my vote because this used to be my area before I relocated to Gaa Akanbi,” she said.

However, the Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who cast his vote at his ancestral home in Idigba polling unit 004 of Adewole Ward, Ilorin West LGA, at about 10:55 a.m. on Saturday, commended the turnout of the electorates at his unit saying that democracy has come to stay.

As the electoral process in Kwara unfolds, the people’s demand for fairness and transparency rings louder than ever.