February 25, (THEWILL) – The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, has advised candidates that may lose in the presidential and national assembly election to accept the result in good faith and congratulate their opponents.
Ayu, who gave the advice immediately after casting his vote at Mkovur market square in Ipav, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, also called on well-meaning Nigerians to ensure that democracy thrives.
The former Senate President posited that as a democrat and advocate of peace, he wants democracy to flourish in Nigeria and lauded INEC for doing a good job, expressing optimism that the PDP would emerge victorious after the polls.
He called on supporters of the PDP to be calm and law-abiding as they await the outcome of the election.
Meanwhile, high turnouts have characterised the presidential and national assembly elections in Benue state, even as complaints of late arrival and shortage of electoral materials were recorded in some polling units.
During a visit to the protocol polling unit, Government House, Makurdi, voters were seen hanging to wait for the arrival of the ink pad, which was exhausted at about 1:30pm.
The situation was later resolved when a good Nigerian brought a black biro, which was poured into the pad and diluted with water before voting resumed.
At the Gombe, 11 polling unit, Wadata, Makurdi, a similar situation occurred as some voters said the material arrived at about 11am and appealed to electoral officers to allow them to vote to the last person.
President, Jire Doo Foundation, Makurdi, Mrs Josephine Haba, attributes the hitches to a lack of proper training of election officials to handle the BVAS machine for accreditation of voters.
Although she expressed happiness with the conduct of the exercise, the short supply of ink delayed the exercise.
As at the time of filling this report, electoral officers within the Makurdi metropolis were seen returning to the collation centre at Suswam Thank You Primary school, High level, Makurdi.
