Massive turnout in Osun guber poll
The Osun state gubernatorial election yesterday witnessed massive turnout of voters as people trooped out to cast their votes to the candidates of their choice.
In yesterday’s poll, 20 political parties contested for the governorship seat but the battle was between the incumbent governor of the state, Rauf Aregbesola, who is also the candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Most of the polling booths visited around Osogbo, Ikirun, Ilesa, Imesi Ile, Otan Ile, Okuku, Ila Orangun and Ile Ife began accreditation as early as 8 a.m and by 10 a.m most booths had completed the exercise, waiting for 12 noon as specified by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the voting exercise.
Generally, election was peaceful. Although there were arrests top members of the APC in some parts of the state.
Security posts were mounted on major roads in the state capital, Osogbo as well as all roads leading to the city.
It was also noticed that there were not many observers observing the conduct of the election as our correspondents moved around the state.
The only booth where Sunday Trust met a representative of Women Arise Initiative, Mrs Ayo Ojebola was in ward 4 unit 16 in Osogbo where she described the election as a peaceful one.
“This election has been peaceful and fair enough from what we have seen today. I think INEC has done well for now and if the transparency we have seen at the voting centres can be carried to a logical conclusion, Nigeria will be better for it,” she said.
In Idominasi, Ipanda-Ijesha, Ikinyinwa, Ajaba- Orangu and Alagbede of Boluwaduro local government, the turnout was encouraging. Electorates said they were contented with the process of election. There was also heavy military presence in small villages.