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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Voting is ongoing in the Osun State governorship election amid heavy security presence, large voter turnout and competing claims by Governor Ademola Adeleke and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Bola Oyebamiji.
Adeleke, who voted at Ward 2, Unit 9, Abodunge/Sagba in Ede North Local Government Area, raised the alarm over an alleged plot to disrupt voting in his hometown.
The governor urged the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies to watch a police officer from Port Harcourt, allegedly known as “London”, whom he claimed had been brought into Osun to cause disruption.
“As of now, it is going well,” Adeleke said, before raising the security allegation.
“I am calling on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) and all security agencies to watch out for this police officer from Port Harcourt.
“I understand that the APC brought him to Osun State to carry out a hatchet job and cause disruption in my town, Ede, so that people will not be able to vote.”
Adeleke also alleged an attempt to bypass the normal result-transmission and collation procedure.
“I also have it on good authority that they do not want to follow the normal process of moving from the polling units to the wards and then to the local governments. Instead, they want to take the process straight to the collation centre.
“This is not acceptable. They must follow the rules,” he said, adding that he was confident of victory.
But Oyebamiji, after voting at Unit 11, Ward 9, Open Space Gantry in Ikire, expressed confidence that he would defeat the incumbent.
“INEC is here, voters are here, and security operatives are here,” Oyebamiji said, commending the turnout.
“It shows that people are not intimidated, and generally, things are going on fine across the state.”
He urged security agencies to remain vigilant following reports of possible violence in Ikire.
“I want to assure you that the police will do their job, and I am confident that I will win this election at the end of the day,” Oyebamiji said.
The election has also been overshadowed by the arrest of a serving member of the state House of Assembly, Abiola Ibrahim Inaolaji, and 146 suspected electoral mercenaries allegedly found at his residence in Ikire.
Police reportedly recovered more than 200 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the location.
The state Police Command confirmed the arrest and said an investigation was ongoing into the alleged recruitment and movement of the suspects into the state.
Meanwhile, former governor and Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said he expected Oyebamiji to win.
After voting in Iragbiji, Oyetola praised the security agencies and voter turnout.
“Our state is known for peace. I don’t know why voting, which is a normal process, should create any issue at all,” he said.
He added: “People are yearning for continuity. Therefore, the most appropriate thing is for them to turn out en masse and vote, so they can confirm that this is the kind of government they want. My candidate will win by the grace of God.”
Voting is continuing across the state, with isolated delays reported at some polling units.
At Ward 5, Unit 12, Falaju Street, Ile-Ife, voters were kept waiting after the polling venue was locked, while some voters in Iragbiji complained of missing names on the register.
The APC deputy governorship candidate, Kayode Adereti, who voted in Ife Central, described the exercise as peaceful and praised the performance of the BVAS.
“The turnout is impressive, and the security is perfect. The BVAS is working well, and everyone is happy here,” Adereti said.
