Palpable fear seems to be hitting the camp of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State chapter as the electorates go to the poll today.

They will be electing their governor, who will govern the state for the next four years.

Although, more than 10 political parties are contesting the governorship election, it is generally believed that the ticket is mainly between two major contenders – candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Gboyega Oyetola and the PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke.

Both parties have mobilised numerous of their supporters across the nation and beyond.

The mobilisation, has led to many of the hotels fully booked in Ede, Ede South Local Government Area and other major towns in the state.

Adeleke is from Ede and he seems to be enjoying the backing of majority of the people in the ancient town.

Notwithstanding the intensive mobilisation, the PDP camp is already entertaining fear of losing the election.

Though some of the residents in Ede said it was their turn to produce the next governor of the state, they however, expressed doubt over Adeleke’s emergence.

At a popular hotel in the heart of Ede, Ridiance Hotel otherwise known as Baba Kekere in the heart of the town, some of the PDP chieftains said, they suspected a scenario where APC outdo PDP in votes buying.

This claim, has however been refuted on many occasions by the ruling party.

“Well, we will try our best. But, I suspect a situation where some people will collect money from us (PDP) and still vote for the APC” a close associate of Adeleke had lamented.

Also, a motorcycle rider, Mr. Waliu Fashola, who said many voters in Osun were ready to support the candidare of Adeleke, however, hinted that, he had heard on good authority that the APC will do everything to retain the ticket.

But Fashola said that, there was division within the PDP camp and that may work against Adeleke’s emergence.

The candidate of Peoples Redemption Party(PRP), Busuyi Ayowole has berated the state executive of the party over claim of withdrawal from Osun state governorship race ahead of Saturday poll.

The state chairman of the party, Abiodun Afolabi speaking with The Nation on Friday disclosed that the party has withdraw from the race.

He hinged the withdrawal on alleged anti party activities of the candidate, Busuyi and soliciting of funds from some political parties in the state.

He said, “since we adopted him as the candidate of our party, he has travelled out without any clear communication with us. We later heard that he has been communicating with political parties to trade PRP. We set up a committee and got to know his dishonest moves. We informed our national secretariat and our withdrawal was announced. We are not participating in tomorrow’s exercise.”

However, Busuyi debunked the allegations, saying, “I funded the party after my emergence as the governorship candidate, I pay the party N1.4 million every month for five months. They are expecting more money from me and I am not ready to give them. That is why they are going about to blackmail me. They are tax collectors who want money all the time.

“I have filed my petition against them, I will submit after Saturday’s exercise. I am fully in the race of Osun governorship poll.”

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu yesterday urged electoral officers to be above board in today’s governorship election in Osun State.

He appealed to them to build on the success of the Ekiti, Ondo and Edo governorship polls by making the exercise free, fair and transparent.

He said: “I have assured our stakeholders and the people of Osun State that the Commission will not do anything to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.

“We have made adequate arrangements for the election. We have promised a level playing field for all. The security agencies have assured us of safety.”

Yakubu said in a statement that the electoral agency will not condone indiscipline and laxity.

He urged them to uphold the Code of Conduct, display a sense of commitment and professionalism, remain above board and firmly resist any unethical behaviour.

Yakubu added:”You must also stick to the Oath of Neutrality to which we have all subscribed. I have the confidence in your ability to consolidate on our recent successes.”

The Chairman said Nigerians will understandably hold the commission responsible for the promises made to them on electoral sanity.

His words:”They will observe our attitude and behaviour from the opening to the closing of polls. They will particularly observe our management of the election results and measure the extent of our adherence to the extant laws through every stage of the electoral process.

“I appeal to you to uphold our Code of Conduct, display your usual sense of commitment and professionalism, remain above board and firmly resist any unethical behaviour. You must also stick to the Oath of Neutrality to which we have all subscribed. I have the confidence in your ability to consolidate on our recent successes.”

Many residents of Osun are set to cast their votes in the gubernatorial election scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday, June 18.

They are looking forward to the election with high expectations.

When The Nation visited the hometown of the incumbent Governor, Gboyega Oyetola — Iragbiji, the atmosphere was peaceful and calm with many residents expressing optimism for a free, fair and credible election.

Also, aged residents expressed readiness to exercise their electoral rights.

The Nation reports election materials had been distributed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the 30 Local Government Areas within the state.

Speaking with The Nation, a resident at Iragbiji, Alhaja Aminat, said she would cast her vote with hopes of improved governance in the state.

Another resident, Kazeem Hakeem prayed for a peaceful and violence-free poll.

“I pray for a peaceful election, because, violence will make living more difficult for everyone

“One thing is sure: we will come out on Saturday to elect our leaders, it is our civic responsibility” he said.

Major politicians in Ikire, Osun State are currently in closed-door meeting with stakeholders in order to enhance their party’s performance in tomorrow’s election.

They are meeting ward leaders, groups and associations to finalize arrangements for the election.

The Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi is holding final talks with community and party leaders in his Popo residence in the town.
So was the senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Akogun Lere Oyewunmi who is having a long meeting with ward leaders.

The meetings, it was gathered, were aimed at putting finishing touches to the strategies to be employed in ensuring victory for their parties tomorrow.

A politician in the town, Mr Mutiu Adeagbo, told The Nation that last-minute meetings are strategic for politicians during elections to ensure that voters are well mobilized to gain advantage.

“You should expect this kind of meetings. They are critical in elections. We have to keep engaging ourselves till election morning. This will keep all of us informed and ensure that we are together in our efforts to win the election.”

Ikire is the headquarters of Irewole Local Government. Alabi hails from the town.

The local government has 74,268 registered voters.

Our reporter was unable to get the number of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) as the Electoral Officer heading the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the council Alhaja Selimot Adewoyin said she did not have the figures.

About 1,000 persons in Ijebu-Jesa yesterday enjoyed free medical care in an outreach by the National Women’s wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Beneficiaries were screened for

The beneficiaries were screened for diabetes, hypertension, malaria and typhoid, and also got free medicines.

Read Also; Overwhelming endorsements for Oyetola’s re-election

National Women leader Dr Betta Edu said the outreach was to assist the less-privileged to be medically fit and have a healthy life. She added that it was also to cushion the challenges of beneficiaries due to the prevailing economic hardship in the country.

She said: “The exercise is to further explore more innovative strategies to massively mobilise support for Governor Gboyega Oyetola’s second term in office, and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s election as president in 2023. This is a continuation of activities that started in Zamfara State, and we are moving across the country to assist and provide adequate health facilities for women.

“We have been in Osun State in the last three days, and Osun has witnessed impactful interventions from medical outreaches to financial support for petty traders and farmers…”

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has distributed sensitive materials to its 30 local government offices ahead of tomorrow’s election.

The distribution at INEC office in Osogbo was witnessed by agents of political parties, journalists and election observers.

Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Raji said the sensitive materials were taken to INEC local government offices under heavy security.

Read Also; Conduct free, fair, credible polls in 2023, Ohanaeze tells INEC

He said: “We took delivery of the sensitive materials midnight of Wednesday, and it has been with us for about 36 hours. The party agents have seen them. These materials have been under very heavy security since the day we brought them, and we also invited the party agents to witness the arrival, including the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) chairman.”

According to Raji, five national commissioners and 12 supporting RECs were on ground, with each assigned to the local government they would supervise. He added that some of the sensitive materials, like the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), had been loaded into vehicles that would take them to their destinations.

“Earlier today, we loaded the BVAS into the vehicles. The ballot papers will now be loaded and each local government vehicle will move out soon. We expect that in the next two to three hours, they will reach their destinations,” he added.

Raji also noted that the materials (ballot papers and result registers) were customised according to the local governments and polling units. He told journalists to check the result sheets for his signature, saying result sheets without his signature will not be considered authentic.

Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar; his running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa; former Vice President Namadi Sambo and Sokoto State Governor Aminu Tambuwal yesterday stormed Osogbo, the Osun State, to rally support for the governorship candidate Ademola Adeleke.

However, Governors Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Nyesom Wike (Rivers); former factional governorship   candidate Prince Dotun Babayemi, BoT member Shuib Oyedokun and Senator Olu-Alabi were absent at the mega rally which held at the party secretariat on Ikirun road.

Other dignitaries at the rally were Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Douye Diri (Bayelsa); ex-Senate President Bukola Saraki; Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abounu; former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; PDP National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu; Deputy National Chairman Taofeek Arapaja, National Vice Chairman (Southwest) Soji Adagunodo, among others.

Atiku, while addressing the supporters and faithful, said: “Don’t vote for APC, they stole your victory in 2018. I saw the convoy of Oyetola when we are coming; nobody was cheering him because this state is a PDP state. Vote for PDP and protect your vote. Don’t allow rigging tomorrow. Voting APC means you want to go back to darkness.”

Ayu opined that Osun State was in darkness under the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration. He added that voting Adeleke means installing hope and light into the state. ‘PDP will rescue Nigeria,’ he added.

While Oyinlola reeled out his achievements while he was governor, Tambuwal urged supporters to vote for Adeleke for restoration of good values, and Sambo admonished them to collect their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and vote for Adeleke tomorrow.

By Gbenga Omokhunu and Blessing Olaifa, Abuja

About 11,226 personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been deployed for the election.

Commandant-General of the Corps Ahmed Audi enjoined the officials to work with other security agencies to forestall unrest or breach of the peace in the 3,763 polling units across the 31 councils.

A statement by the Director of Public Relations, Olusola Odumosu, said the deployed officers were drawn from the national headquarters and nine state commands of Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and Edo.

It reads: “The objective of the Corps is to create a secured environment for the successful conduct of the election, and enhance the general security in the state before, during and after the election. The officers have attended various workshops on best practices during election, and they have been acquainted with the provisions of the Electoral Act regarding Rules of Engagement. Hence, they must comply with the Corps’ Operational Code, Standard Operating Procedure and, above all, display of professionalism and high sense of discipline throughout the election…”

The Corps also provided Operational Hot Lines – 08060003181, 08032898909 and N-Alert Situation Room Hotlines: 08066005861, 08032928878 and 07034322058 for ease of communication.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has also deployed staff monitors in the 30 Local Government Areas to monitor the conduct of police officers during tomorrow’s election.

PSC will also be at the Situation Room of the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Security Control Room at the Police State Command Headquarters in Osogbo, the state capital.

The first batch of the delegation arrived in Osun State on July 12, while the second batch were expected yesterday.

Chairman of the Commission Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police (IG), urged police officers involved in the elections to beat the Ekiti State record.

Smith called for greater commitment from the police so that the election will ‘signpost a bright future for election policing, especially as the nation counts down to the 2023 general elections’.

By Frank Ikpefan, Abuja and Toba Adedeji, Osogbo  

A civil society, Yiaga Africa, has described tomorrow’s election as an opportunity for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to build citizens’ confidence and gain the trust of Nigerians ahead of the 2023 general elections.

The organisation noted that the poll provides an opportunity for election stakeholders to build on the marked improvement and relative success of the Ekiti governorship elections.

A statement by the Executive Director, Samson Itodo, and a Board Member Ezenwa Nwagwu, reads: “Tomrrow’s election provides an opportunity for election stakeholders to build on the marked improvement and relative success of the Ekiti governorship elections.

“However, with a different political and security terrain, the election will test the resolve of election stakeholders, especially INEC and security agencies to conduct credible, transparent, inclusive, peaceful and conclusive elections amidst a tense atmosphere.

“Being the last major election before the 2023 general elections, tomorrow’s polls is an opportunity for INEC to build citizens’ confidence and gain the trust of Nigerians. Thus, it is crucial that the logistics and technology employed function optimally.

“While INEC has expressed confidence in the state of its preparedness, Yiaga Africa urges the commission not to overestimate its capacity nor underestimate potential challenges that could undermine the election. The voters in Osun and Yiaga Africa expect that INEC and security agencies will deliver credible, peaceful and conclusive elections bereft of challenges of election logistics, technological failures, inconsistent application of electoral laws and guidelines, electoral violence and vote-buying.”

The group also raised concerns of inadequate information on allocation and imbalance in the distribution of voters to polling units.

Itodo, who addressed a news conference yesterday in Osogbo, noted that the inadequate information about the relocation of some new polling units can potentially disenfranchise voters who may be unable to locate their polling units.

He siad: “Despite the creation of additional polling units, there are oversized units with registered voters above the threshold of 750 registered voters. Osun State has 246 polling units with over 1,000 registered voters, eight polling units with over 2,000 registered voters, and one polling unit with over 3,000 registered voters. Oversized polling units may pose a logistics challenge on election day. It is imperative for INEC to revisit the expansion of voter access to polling units in order to achieve the desired outcome of the creation of new polling units.”