*Voting Ends as Collation Begins in Osun
The 2023 governorship election in Osun State has ended in most of the 30 local government areas of the State.
Collation has begun in earnest as polling units sort out ballot papers before counting begins.
*Voting Begins In Osun Poll
By Segun Adegoke, Osogbo
Voting has started in Osun State Governorship Election with candidates of all the political parties casting their ballot at various polling units.
The Incumbent Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola who is seeking a second term voted at ward 1, unit 2, Local Authority Primary School, Popo, Iragbiji.
Oyetola commended the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC for the process so far.
He urged the commission to increase the number of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS deployed for the election to capture more voters eligible to vote.
He said: “Considering the time frame we have for voting, they need to speed up or increase the number of machines to ensure that the process is completed within the time frame.
“The security agents are doing well. Seeing the enthusiasm that voters have displayed to cast their votes, I’m particularly very grateful to them and that shows that people are conscious of the need to participate in the process. Once the process is transparent enough, people will not be persuaded to vote, there will be no voters apathy.
“I’m confident that I will be re-elected by the grace of Almighty God.”
Also, the governorship candidate of the Accord Party, Dr Akin Ogunbiyi commended INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election.
He said reports reaching him indicated that the exercise is peaceful across the state and urged the people to maintain the peace.
Ogunbiyi stated this shortly after casting his vote at ward 5, unit 3 located at Methodist primary school, Ile Ogbo.
He added that he was optimistic that he would win the election just as he advised INEC to ensure that every eligible voter was allowed to vote before closing the process.
He said: “The process has been peaceful and progress is being made, I however want the process stepped up to accommodate all eligible voters within the time.
“The turnout has been massive and impressive, the report across the state shows that it has been peaceful.”
*PDP Candidate Ademola Adeleke casts his vote
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Ademola Adeleke in the early hours of Saturday, being accredited and casting his vote at his polling unit.
*Restriction of movement enforced as Osun residents elect Governor
There is a restriction on human and vehicular movement in Osogbo and other towns as residents vote in the gubernatorial election.
There are empty streets and locked shops in areas as early as 7:00 am around Osogbo.
Voters whose polling units are far from their residences are seen trekking to get there on time for accreditation.
Vehicles of security agents patrolling the streets to maintain order as well as those on essential duty are the only ones plying the roads.
Earlier rousers had reached their polling units as early as 7:30 am to check their names on the pasted voters list in readiness for the process.
Around Osogbo, the state capital, election officials are also seen busy at their duty posts, preparing for the process to commence.
*Voters Queue to Cast Vote
Election materials have arrived at different polling units in Osun state as the gubernatorial election commences.
VON reports that eligible voters at ward 03 Unit 07 Asubiaro, sale Osun area are already on the queue to perform their civil rights.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission, there are 1,955,657 registered voters in the state and a total number of 1,479,596 eligible voters have collected their PVC as of the 10th of July 2022.
There are 30 local government areas in Osun State, 3 Senatorial Districts, and 9 Federal Constituencies. There is a total number of 332 wards and 3763 polling units in the state.
Fifteen political parties are contesting the Governorship election in Osun State.
