The election exercise across Oyo State has been peaceful as the electorate, who trooped out en masse, on Saturday, to elect a new president and national law makers, conducted themselves in an orderly manner.
Reports of peaceful conducts were witnessed across the state, from Ibadan the Oyo state capital, Egbeda in Oyo Central, to Ibarapa, Ido in Oyo South to Kishi, Saki as well as Ogbomosho in Oyo North.
Consequently, many areas In Ibadan, that were hitherto categorised as violence prone areas, also witnessed a peaceful exercise.
However, there were cases of occasional malfunctioning of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS)machine.
Governor Seyi Makinde, who cast his vote at Ward 11, Unit 01, Abayomi Iwo-road in Ibadan Northeast Local Government Area, appreciated the people of Oyo State for coming out in their numbers to exercise their civic rights.
He described the voting process as “speedy and efficient“, saying the process went smoothly while he voted.
Makinde stated: “I appreciate the people of Oyo State for exercising their rights. The process is going fine so far, so good. “The accreditation process is okay, and the people are conducting themselves very well. So, I think democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.”
Similarly, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, cast his vote at Ward 6, Unit 4, Kishi, Irepo Local Government Area, Oyo North Senatorial District.
He also commended the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) for the introduction of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) into the voting exercise, affirming that the use of the BVAS would ensure that people’s votes count.
Security operatives were seen manning their duty posts and polling units, conducting themselves professionally, while observers, reporters and other relevant stakeholders in the election process were allowed to perform their duties undisturbed.
The Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Tella Adeniran, accompanied by heads of security apparatus in the state, went round some polling units in the state capital and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.
Vote Buying
Speaking to reporters, the Senatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo Central, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe and a chieftan of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Alhaji Rasheed Adebisi Olopoeyan, both attributed the reduced cases of vote buying to the cashless policy of the Federal Government.
They said it made vote buying difficult.
They however urged the government to hasten relief measures by making cash available and accessible to citizens.
Mr Wole Akinleye, a PDP chieftain at the Orogun Ward 2, Unit 39 in Ibadan urged the electorates within and across the country to remain calm and well-behaved as they await the results.
He said the electorate have done their best, so they could only rely on God and accept whatever God designs.
Mrs Dilinna Lucy Nwobi who voted at Ward 10 Unit 6 Bodija area, commended the peaceful conduct of the poll, particularly with the introduction of the BIVAS which enables accreditation and voting simultaneously.
