THERE was an impressive turn out of voters as the accreditation process for the Ondo governorship election got underway yesterday.
A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across the three senatorial districts indicated a large turnout of enthusiastic voters.
In Akure Ward 10, Units 1 and 2, a NAN correspondent sighted long queues of voters as at 8:05 am while INEC officials as well as security men were at their duty posts.
Also in Ward 9, Unit 6, Iworo Junction, there was a long queue of voters going through the accreditation process as at 8:45 a.m.
A NAN correspondent also sighted a long queue of voters at Ward 7, Unit 4, Arakale area, where there was a large turnout of voters who were being accredited as at 8:55 a.m.
However, in Ward 2, Unit 33, a large number of voters were seen waiting for INEC officials who were yet to arrive as at 8:35 a.m.
There was, however, a heavy presence of security men including policemen and NSCDC officials.
But, while accreditation was going on at Ward 9, Unit 6, INEC officials and materials were yet to arrive at Ward 9, Unit 5 and 7, with aggrieved voters openly complaining about the pace of accreditation.
In Ondo Ward 7, Unit 20, Ondo Central Senatorial District, where Gov. Olusegun Mimiko was accredited at about 10:30 am, there was a massive turnout of voters.
There was also a massive presence of security officials although there was free human movement across polling units.
Accreditation also commenced on schedule while the ad hoc INEC official at the polling unit, Mr Ajayi Alaba, said adequate personnel and materials were already on the ground.
Alaba, an NYSC member, said voters were also conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
The governor’s mother, Mrs Muinat Mimiko, was brought on a wheel chair for accreditation; she advised the electorate to conduct themselves in an orderly manner.
In Orun Ward 1, Akoko North East Local Government, Ondo North Senatorial District, there was a large turnout of voters with accreditation starting at about 8: am.
There was also total paralysis of business activities as shops and other business outfits remained shut.
However, in Orun Ward 1, Unit 5, Akoko North East Local Government, voters could not find their names on the register.
The ad hoc INEC official at the unit and NYSC member, Miss Oluchi Osuala, who confirmed the development, told NAN that efforts were on to resolve the problem.
A voter, Mr Dauda Ishola, said it was inexplicable that some names were missing on the voters’ register, urging that this should be promptly investigated.
But in Ikado Ward 1, Akoko North East Local Government, accreditation started at 8:15 am with an impressive turn out of voters.
Also, there was a massive turnout at Iyomata Ward 1 in Ikare Ikun polling unit while there was a heavy security presence.
At Ikoya/Oloto Polling Unit in Okitipupa Local Government, Ondo South Senatorial District, more than 50 voters were sighted as at 8:28 am while the INEC presiding official, Mr Olufemi Ajiboye, said there were adequate materials and personnel for the poll.
NAN also observed that armed security men mounted road blocks at various strategic spots in Okitpupa township.
In Igbotako, also in Okitipupa Local Government Area, there were long queues of voters while accreditation commenced in some polling units as at 8:10 am
In Ward 3, Unit 5, Olori/Otunmara, Ilaje Local Government Area, the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olushola Oke, was accredited at about 10: 30 am by the presiding officer, Mr Tomi Dosunmu.
He, however, complained about the handling of the accreditation process in the river side areas of the state, claiming that it was taking officials about 30 minutes to accredit one voter.
Oke, however, commended the people of the area for their peaceful conduct.
NAN reports that INEC materials arrived late at about 9:30 am with some voters expressing displeasure at the development.
In Owo, Ondo North Senatorial District, there was also a massive turn out of voters while there was a visible presence of security men.
At Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Unit 16, accreditation started only at 10:10 am while NAN correspondent sighted students waiting for the exercise on the queue.
The presiding officer at the unit, Mr Chukwuwak Mark, said there was a serious delay in the supply of materials by INEC, assuring that with the supply of the materials, accreditation was commencing in earnest.
But in Unit 5, Rainbow Junction in Owo, accreditation was going on when NAN correspondent arrived at the scene at about 10: 20 am.
NAN also reports that ACN governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, was accredited at the Unit 6, Oke Ijebu GRA Owo polling unit at 10 am.
Mimiko in company of his wife voted at 2.30 pm. He condemned the late arrival of materials especially in Akure.
PDP governorship candidate Olusola Oke was delayed for over one hour at Igbotako for flouting the order that candidates should not go around with security details.
He had with him four security men. He was, however, released after making calls.