Ogun State: Election Delays in Abeokuta As INEC officials Arrive Late
Sekinat Salam-Opebiyi, Abeokuta
Residents in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital in South West Nigeria are being delayed from voting.
It was observed that as at 8: 30, there was no obvious readiness in most of the polling units in the capital as the Independent National Electoram Commission, INEC officials had not arrived at the units.
Heavily armed security operatives were seen at various points performing their stop-and -search duty.
Streets were deserted as there were no vehicular movements, few pedestrians who were seen moving on the streets were either INEC’s election officials or potential voters who were heading to their various polling units.
Also, there was no commercial activities in the capital as markets were deserted.
In ward 14, Abeokuta South, as at 8: 50 am local time, INEC officials had just started setting up for the exercise against the scheduled 8:30 time for the commencement of the process.
As at 9:07 am, there was still low turn out in most of the polling units in Abeokuta metropolis.
Our correspondent observed that majorly, only Abeokuta South had started voting as at 9:00 am.
In Abeokuta South, election voting started at 9: 15 in ward 11 and ward 8 respectively with voters on queue performing their franchise.
Also, the BVAS machines at these polling units were in good condition except in ward 11 where the INEC officials experienced network problem.
Some of the voters who had cast their votes applauded INEC, adjudging the process as easy, free, fair and obstruction free.
Confidence Okwuchi