Some residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, among other parts of the state on Saturday defied the movement restriction ordered by the state government in view of the ongoing local government election on Saturday.
Although many residents were observed to have stayed away from the voting areas, human and vehicular movements were observed in major parts of the capital city.
Some of the areas which were still busy despite the ongoing election include, Alakia-Isebo axis, Iyana-Church, Iwo Road, Monatan and Agodi-Gate.
Others are Ring Road, Adeoyo, Oluyole, Dugbe, Challenge, Mokola and Ojoo areas of Ibadan as at 11:00a.m.
The government had issued a movement restriction order from 6AM to 3PM while the election lasted.
It was observed that commercial vehicles were still conveying passengers to different destinations even as security operatives, who were only stationed at the polling booths, were absent on the roads.
In some areas including Beere, Oje, Labiran, Oja’ba, Ojoo and Ajibode, among others, many youths seized the opportunity to engage in street football games while those that are moving around are charged higher fares.
Commercial motorcycles were seen in good numbers plying the road, doing their businesses.
Sources informed that, other parts of the state including Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun also saw normal activities going on unabated.
Election Logistics
The early morning rainfall in Ibadan was said to have contributed to the indifference by residents, as well as delay in the distribution of electoral materials to polling centres.
The delay in distribution of electoral materials were also seen in Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area of Oyo State, as the distribution started at about 9AM, a source hinted.
Commercial activities were also said to have been ongoing at the usual pace in Ogbomosho, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun areas with low turnout of the electorate.
Pockets of violence also rocked some parts of the state with shooting and ballot snatching reported in Oke-Ola, Eruwa.
Also in Ogbomosho, due to the level of violence and crisis that marred the election, the state chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) announced their pulling out of the election.
Emmanuel Ukoh
