By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Senator representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly, Mallam Saliu Mustapha, has expressed optimism that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would emerge victorious in the local government elections held across the 16 local government areas of Kwara State on Saturday.

According to him, the party’s victory would encourage Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration in the state to sustain its good work and to deliver more democratic dividends to the people.

Mustapha, who spoke to Journalists on Saturday in Ilorin shortly after casting his vote at Ode-Kolawole polling booth 005,
noted that the good performance of the Governor would manifest at the local government level and, therefore, urged those that would be elected not to lower the bar.

The legislator commended the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) for what he described as peaceful conduct of the elections across the 16 local government areas of the state.

Mustapha, who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Agricultural Production Services and Rural Development, said his findings showed that the elections provided an avenue for cordial electioneering process.

“May I first of all appreciate the people and also commend the state government and the state Independent Electoral Commission for this effort that has been put in place to have a peaceful and very cordial environment for the local government elections.

“From my house down here, I discovered very peaceful atmosphere around, very cordial electioneering process going on, and I hope at the end of the day, we will have a very victorious one for my party, APC so that we can continue with the good work of the APC administration led by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who has just been conferred with the Sardauna of Ilorin, so that the good work and dividends of democracy can trickle down.

“I have always told people. For local government elections, no matter how you want to look at it, it is still the good work of the state government that will trickle down because they (elected council officials) are the people that will work and share the vision of the Governor. So, that is why for me, it is a support in total for the state government for whatever outcome that has been arrived at.

“I want to thank everybody, thank my brothers and sisters in this community. We have also observed a peaceful and cordial electioneering process. At the end of the day, it is a call to serve. I pray whoever emerges, will remember that it is a call to serve the people”, the Senator said.

On a few challenges in some polling booths, Mustapha said, “In every election, there is bound to be complaint. But so far so good, I’m really impressed with what has happened”.