Tag: Osun LG poll

The local government election in Osun on Saturday witnessed poor turnout of the electorate in the state.

Correspondents of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), who monitored the election  in some local governments  reports that there was no presence of ad hoc staff of the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) in polling units visited.

In Osogbo, some of the polling units located at Ogo-Oluwa, Alekunwodo, Olaiya, Oja-Oba, among others, were devoid of  electorate, OSSIEC staff and  security personnel as at 9: 15 am.

NAN also observed that voters’ list was not displayed at some of the polling units visited.

However, election took place in unit 18, 19 and 20, ward 4, Ataoja D.

Although Gov. Ademola Adeleke ordered restriction of vehicular  movement from 5a.m to 5p.m across the state,  but this was not complied with as there was free vehicular movement without any form of restriction.

NAN, however, also observed that there was road blocks along the major roads by the police.

Similarly, in Ile-Ife, there was no sign of electorate as well as OSSIEC adhoc staff in some of the polling units visited.

However, shops, markets and other shopping malls were under lock and key.

In Ede, the home town of the governor, the situation was a bit different.

Electorate were seen in some of the polling unit visited with OSSIEC and hoc staff attending to them.

At Obalaoye Grammar School, unit 2 ward 4, some electorate were seen on queue  at 8:00 am waiting to cast their votes.

Read Also: Labour Party withdraws from Osun LG poll

Also, Oloba Atapara Ward 1, unit 6 witnessed few electorate waiting to be accredited and to cast their votes.

One of the electorate, Mr Nifemi Akingbala, said that the process had been so peaceful and urged all voters to cast their votes without fear.

Akingbala commended the electoral umpire for making the process peaceful.

Another electorate, Mrs Aminat Idowu Aminat said that that she cast her vote at 8:20 a.m.

Aminat commended the peaceful conduct of the election.

At Alajue 1, ward unit 8, voting ended at 8:56a.m.

The presiding officer at the unit, Emmanuel  Olayiwola, said the  election started at 8:30 a.m.

Olayiwola, however, said that the election was generally peaceful.

Also, at 150A station road, ward 8, unit 6, some electorate were also seen around the place.

The presiding officer, John Olawale, said that the election ended at 8:30 am.

Olawale said that the electoral body were in the process of sorting out the votes for counting.

NAN also observed that elections concluded early  in most of the polling units in the town.

Meanwhile, the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, cast his vote at unit 5 ward 9 Asi in Odo-otin LGA.

Egbedun, after casting his vote, commended OSSIEC for the peaceful conduct of the election.

The speaker commended the electorate for standing firm on the side of the law.

He assured the electorate  that the election would reflect the will of the people.

Egbedun also commended the electorate for coming out en mass to cast their votes.

(NAN)

The Labour Party (LP) in Osun has announced its withdrawal from Saturday’s local government election in the state.

The Chairman of LP in Osun, Mr Adebayo Bello, made the announcement while speaking with newsmen on Friday in Osogbo.

Bello said that the party was withdrawing from the election due to lack of adequate security arrangement by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), for the peaceful conduct of the poll.

He, however, called for the postponement of the election for one or two months, to enable OSSIEC to adequately prepare for the poll.

Bello said that the postponement would also afford the electoral umpire to resolve the legal issues surrounding the conduct of the election.

Also speaking, Mr Oyebode Babalola, the party’s chairmanship candidate, said that LP would not participate in the election due to security concern.

Babalola, who noted that the party was not too sure of the security arrangement for the election, called for the postponement of the election.

“Although, we are ready for the election, but we are not going to participate, due to security concern.

“We have seen some traces that the election might be disrupted tomorrow and we are not ready to put the lives of our people in jeopardy,” he said.

Read Also: Osun LG poll: APC, APM criticise OSIEC boss over alleged relocation of voting materials

Babalola also berated OSSIEC for shoddy preparations for the conduct of the election.

According to him, before the party decided to withdraw from the election, the electoral  commission was contacted for accreditation tags for its agents, but was not provided.

Similarly, the Chairman of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Adewale Adebayo, expressed disappointment over the preparations of OSSIEC for the election.

Adebayo , who noted that the party would not participate in the election, said that when he attempted to officially deliver the withdrawal letter to OSSIEC office on Thursday, no official of the commission was present.

“We want to confirm that we are not participating in the illegal local government election, slated for Saturday.

“We are very disappointed that all OSSIEC staff, including its chairman, have absconded from their headquarters since Wednesday,” he said.

Meanwhile, the OSSIEC office was under lock and key on Friday.

Journalists who went to the commission’s office to collect accreditation tags were turned back by security men stationed at the entrance of the office.

One of the security men at the entrance, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that nobody was allowed to go into the the premises since Wednesday.

Efforts to speak with OSSIEC Chairman, Hashim Abioye, proved abortive, as calls put through to his mobile phone did not connect.

(NAN)