OSUN DECIDES: Large turnout as voting holds across polling units

…voters, observers hail exercise

By Tosin Oluwalowo

Voters trooped out in their large numbers to elect the next governor of Osun State on Saturday.
Our correspondent who moved round Osogbo, the state capital, witnessed a large number of voters at polling units visited.
WesternPost gathered that the election was hitch free, as voters exercised their civic duties unhindered.
In many of the polling units visited, election materials arrived early while voters also got to the centres before 8am.
Some voters who spoke with our correspondent, praised the Independent National Electoral Commission for the smooth conduct of the election.
President of the Women Arise for Change Initiative, Joe Okei-Odunmakin praised all actors on the conduct of the election.
While she observed some incidents of vote buying, the human rights activist said the Osun election was an improvement of the one conducted in Ekiti State last month.

“We have gone to many polling units, generally, it’s been peaceful and we can see how enthusiastic voters are, large number of voters trooped out, although in Iragbiji Ward 3, units 1a and b, only one card reader is working there, but the people are not agitated and the personnel there have consulted those they need to for more card readers as soon and as fast as possible.

“Security wise, we moved around, no harassment, as far as you can identify yourself, and that’s what we have been advocating for, high level of professionalism, courtesy, and most of them that we have seen here are not armed and it shows that voters are not intimidated.
“There is only one place that we have seen of another version of vote buying which is sad and worrisome. In the electoral act, you cannot take your phone to the cubicle. So, when phone is brought there and snapshot of who the person voted for is taken, it’s another dimension.
“This is an improvement to the Ekiti election and I know they before the general elections, we will get there, Osun State is another litmus test and hopefully, we know that improvement is what we need, so, less talk and more action on the part of INEC, the institutions, voters themselves, observers and the media,” she told WesternPost.
Senate spokesman and Senator representing Osun Central, Ajibola Basiru who cast his vote in Osogbo Ward 7, Unit 3, hailed voters for coming out in their large numbers.
“Before I came here to vote, on my way to the polling unit, I passed a number of polling units and I saw a lot of crowd, people came out to exercise their duties. So far, I have not heard of any incident in any polling unit, and I just cast my vote and I think it took less than 10 seconds to do so.
“On the security situation, I can only talk about Osogbo here and so far, it’s been very peaceful,” he told WesternPost.
Another observer who also spoke with WesternPost however stated that while the election has largely been peaceful, the free movement of commercial motorcycles.