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There was a large turnout of voters in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, on Saturday as residents arrived at polling centres to participate in the governorship election.
Voters began arriving at their polling units as early as 7am, with many checking the voters’ registers pasted at the centres ahead of accreditation.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had also arrived early and were seen setting up the polling units before 7am in preparation for the commencement of accreditation and voting.
Journalists observed a strong security presence across Ikire, with unarmed police officers stationed at polling centres while armed security personnel, soldiers and patrol vehicles were deployed at strategic locations around the town.
Despite the security deployment, the town remained calm in the early hours of the election. Vehicular movement was still observed along the Ife-Ibadan Road at about 8.20am, while motorcycles and some cars moved through parts of Ikire.
Some shops were also open as residents continued with their activities while waiting for the electoral process to begin.
The large voter presence was particularly notable because Ikire is the hometown of the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji.
Oyebamiji is expected to cast his vote at Ward 9, Unit 3, AUD School, Atile, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area.
The turnout in the town came as voters across Osun State headed to polling units to elect the governor who will lead the state for the next four years.
As of the time of this report, the atmosphere in Ikire remained peaceful, with voters waiting for accreditation and voting to commence.
