Obanikoro optimistic on Jonathan victory…As Agbaje calls for patience

Minister of State for Foriegn Affairs, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro has expressed optimism that President Goodluck Jonathan will emerge victorious in the just concluded presidential election.

He said the President would not only win the election in Lagos, but also in other parts of the country.
This just as the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Lagos State called on voters in areas where the card readers malfunctioned or where the electoral officials arrived late to be patient with the process.
While Obanikoro spoke after he was accredited at polling 13,on Gerald Road, Etiosa Local Government Area, Agbaje spoke after casting his vote at polling unit 09,ward C in Apapa Local Government Area.
Speaking on the election in his area, Obanikoro said the process was smooth even though officials of the Independent National Electoral Commision(INEC) arrived late for the exercise, the accreditation did not experience hitches as the card readers functioned well.
However, the minister said he has being getting reports of the failure of the card readers in other parts of the state.
“So far, so good. They were late. But since we started, card readers have being working. But I want to sound a note of caution. You cannot assume that this is what obtained in every part of Lagos. I have being getting calls that the card readers are malfunctioning and people run the risk of being disenfranchised,” he said.
Obanikoro added that if at the end of the day, the number of people who could vote because of card reader failure is minute, it could be glossed over.
He, however, noted that in a sitution where up to 25 per cent of eligible voters are affected, then there would be problem.
His words: “If the number is marginal, it doesn’t have the kind of stem to make the minority, the sole participant; there would be a problem if the preponderance of the people are not able to vote.
“If 25 per cent of our people are marginalised across board,there will be need to revisit the process, but if it is marginal, it can be glossed over and take lessons from there.”