Mass turnout, peaceful voting as Remo by-election holds in Ogun

• Governor Abiodun expresses satisfaction, commends INEC, security operatives

From Laide Raheem, Abeokuta

The bye-election into the House of Representatives seat for Remo Federal Constituency in Ogun State, on Saturday, August 16, witnessed a massive turnout with voters trooping out as early as 8:00 a.m. across various polling units in the Federal Constituency.

The poll was held to fill the vacant seat of Adewunmi Onanuga, the late lawmaker who represented the constituency until her death in January.

Our correspondent observed and reported that the exercise was peaceful in some polling units visited in Remo North, Sagamu, and Ikenne LGAs.

At Polling Unit 4 in Iperu, Unit 001 Ward 5, and Polling Unit 002 in Ward 7, Ogere, Ikenne Local Government, accreditation and voting commenced promptly.

By 9:15 a.m., scores of voters were already on the ground casting their ballots in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.

However, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunctioned in some polling units, but this was quickly fixed in order to avoid delay.

Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were seen on ground to attend to voters.

Security operatives, including the police and civil defence officers, were stationed across major locations to maintain order, while major roads in Ikenne and Sagamu were deserted as commercial activities were suspended for the exercise.

The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, cast his vote at his polling unit in Iregun, Iperu, around 10:00 a.m., under heavy security presence.

Speaking shortly after he voted, the governor expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.

“I have just exercised my franchise. I am quite impressed this morning that electoral materials arrived early. There is also an impressive turnout. Everybody is going about voting peacefully.

“In some places, maybe because of the weather, the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS) machines took some time to capture. So far, everything is so good. I want to thank INEC for being on top of their game as usual.

“Obviously, year in, year out, they (INEC) are improving on the quality of their services. Basically, everything is going well. There is no rancour, no fighting,” Abiodun stated.