Early results from Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State indicate a tight race between the incumbent governor, Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The election, which was contested by 15 political parties, witnessed an impressive turnout and was largely peaceful despite minor hitches and incidents of vote buying.
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In most places, the election started early as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security operatives arrived at the polling centres on time. However, there was delay in some newly created polling units, especially at Olorunda Local Government Area, where INEC officials and security operatives were not on ground in some places until almost 10:00am.
Elderly people, first time voters, as well as people living with disabilities, also participated actively in the election.
A 95-year-old Mr Adekunle Benjamin and a 90-year-old Mrs Shabina Oladipo, who voted at unit 7, ward 8 in Oogi town, Ayedaade Local Government Area, arrived at the centre as early as 7am.
Mr Benjamin, who noted that he had been voting since 1952, said he came out early to vote because of his faith in a better Nigeria.
“I am here to exercise my civic responsibility and vote for my candidate for better dividends of democracy,” he said, while appealing to political candidates not to see the election as a do-or-die affair.
“Politics is a game and not a fight. No matter what the outcome of the election might be, the winner and the loser should see themselves as one,” he counselled.
Oladipo on her part said she came out early to vote because of her desire for peace and development of the state, stressing that her preferred candidate would fulfill his campaign promises.
Also, a 75 year-old Mustapha Olagunju urged the electorate to vote for the right candidate and shun violence in order to avoid cancellation. He advised the INEC to create more polling units to address the issue of overcrowding.
A first time voter, Afolabi Waliat Adesewa, who voted at the same polling unit as Gov Oyetola, expressed excitement at the exercise, while hoping that her choice would bring her a better future.
Also, an 18-year-old Oduyemi Juliana said, “It is my first time to vote. The process is good because we are making our choices. It is not a situation whereby one is being told what to do. We want to improve things with our votes.”
On his part, Oyetayo Oluwatobi Emmanuel, 18, said he was motivated to vote because of the situation in the state and Nigeria.
Oyetola, Adeleke, Akande, Omisore, Aregbesola win polling units
Governor Oyetola secured 545 votes to win polling unit 2, ward 1, Popo Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, where he voted. His main challenger Adeleke recorded 69 votes out of the total 622 accredited votes from the 1,457 registered voters.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the exercise, while noting that he expects victory at the end of the day.
A former interim chairman of the APC, Chief Bisi Akande, also won his polling unit (PU 12, ward 4, Ila-Orangun) as APC polled 140 votes, while the PDP scored 117 votes.
At polling unit 003, ward 1 in Ife East Local Government Area where the national secretary of the APC voted, the ruling party recorded 192 votes while the PDP scored 168 votes.
The party also won at polling unit 1, ward 8, Isare Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area by recording 164 votes against PDP’s 134 votes.
The minister of interior and former governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, who was expected to vote at the unit, shunned the exercise.
Daily Trust on Sunday reliably gathered that Aregbesola, who is having a running battle with his former chief of staff and successor, Oyetola, chose to fly to Germany instead of participating in the poll.
A media aide to the minister, Jane Osuji, confirmed to Daily Trust on Sunday that Aregbesola was not in the country. She said the minister was in Germany representing the country at a programme.
The candidate of the PDP also won his polling unit as he recorded 218 votes against Oyetola’s 23. Adeleke voted at polling unit 009, ward 02, Abogunde, Ede North Local Government.
The party also won polling unit 13, ward 4, Osogbo, polling 181 votes against APC’s 55.
Adeleke and PDP chieftains accused the APC of plotting to disrupt the exercise in a bid to create another inconclusive scenario as done in 2018.
A former commissioner of local government and chieftaincy affairs in the state, Kolapo Alimi, a lawyer, said the PDP was coasting to victory.
The strong ally of Aregbesola, who recently defected to the PDP, called on security operatives to ensure that the poll was not disrupted.
How parties bought votes at N2,000, threatened voters
A civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, said the governorship election was characterised by vote buying, especially by the APC and PDP, whose agents bought votes for as low as N2,000.
This was contained in the preliminary report of the organisation, which was jointly signed by its board chairman, Dr Hussain Abdu and executive director, Samson Itodo.
The organisation said it deployed 500 stationary and 32 mobile observers through its Watching The Vote (WTV), to all the 30lLocal government areas to observe the accreditation, voting process and present its assessment on the general conduct of the election and credibility of polling units’ results.
“Yiaga Africa received and verified acts of vote buying perpetrated by agents of the APC and PDP in some polling units; for instance, polling 009, Akinlalu Commercial Grammar School, ward 01 in Ife North. The party agents strategically positioned themselves by the voting cubicle to see how voters marked their ballots. In polling unit 003, opposite Olomu Mosque in Osogbo, PDP’s agents were seen handing out between N2,000 and N,5000 to induce voters.
“Also, in Disu polling unit 003, ward 7 in Orolu Local Government, agents were seen distributing N4,000 to voters who voted for the party, while PDP’s agents were seen distributing N2,000 to induce voters,” the report stated.
The report also stated that the secrecy of the ballots was compromised.
According to the report, intimidation of voters was observed and verified at Open Space-Under Tree, Ojude Oke, polling unit 010, Iragbiji ward 4, Boripe Local Government Area, where thugs associated with the APC threatened to stab any voter who did not vote for the party.
The CLEEN Foundation, in its preliminary statement on Election Security Support Centre (ESSC) signed by its acting executive director, Ms Ruth Olofin, noted that security agents deployed for the election looked the other way while political party agents openly bought votes.
Also, the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) said the election was marred by political party agents campaigning and canvassing for votes near polling units. An analyst at the CDD Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC) and senior lecturer at the Babcock University, Ogun State, Dr Ayomola Oluranti, said this on Saturday in Abuja.
On its part, the Gender and Election Watch (GEW) of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), said the election did not encourage fair women participation in the country’s democracy and governance.
Meanwhile, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested some persons who were allegedly caught in the act of buying votes.
Those arrested include Yekini Nurudeen Abiodun, at unit 002, ward 08, Isale Agbara area, Osogbo; Jimoh Kazeem; Adeyemo Bahir and Abidogun Ismail, at polling unit 002, ward 2, Ababu, Isale Osun.
Brisk business for food vendors, others
Daily Trust on Sunday reports that food vendors and drink sellers enjoyed brisk business during the exercise
Madam Funke Edebu said she made over N20,000, while another vendor said she brought goods worth N6,000 to the venue but only got N2,000 after she was ordered to distribute it to some voters by one of the party leaders.
From Abiodun Alade, Hameed Oyegbade & Mumini AbdulKareem, Osogbo & Abass Jimoh, Abuja
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