OsunDecides: APC’s Oyetola yet to cast his vote

Abuja (Sundiata Post) -. Governor Adegboyega Oyetola is yet to cast his vote as at 10.22 am on Saturday.
Oyetola, who is the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, is yet to show up for accreditation at LEA primary school, Popo, Igbaji in Boripe Local Government Area of the state.
He’s expected to vote at polling unit 02, ward one.
Meanwhile, there is large turn out of voters at the polling unit

10:56 am
Osun Decides: My Party’s Polling Agents Have Compromised, Says APP Candidate 

The Osun state governorship candidate of Action Peoples Party (APP), Adeolu Adebayo has urged security agents across the state to disallow all the party’s agents at the polling units. 
Adebayo alleged that his party’s agents across the state have been compromised and hijacked by one of the major political parties in the governorship race. 

The guber candidate told THISDAY on Saturday morning, “It has been discovered that all my party agents across osun state were strangers, I don’t know them and they are never a member of Action Peoples Party(APP).
“This was notice on the passport photograph on my party state agent was not anyone from my party. I start doing my findings to have a proof and discovered yesterday through some of the party members seeing my party agents tags with strange people.

“I further in my investigation to be sure of the allegations that members of the PDP are the one behind this evil act. I therefore request a fast action and approach by the commission of police; never to allow anyone carry APP party agent tags at the polling units across osun state. Arrest should be made in any case of someone seeing carry APP party agents tags.”
09:35am
Iragbiji, Ede Residents Troop out to Vote under Tight Security

The residents of Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government area of Osun and Ede trooped out in large numbers as early 6.30 a.m, eager to cast their votes amidst tight security in the Saturday governorship election.
Iragbiji is the home town of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, who is seeking reelection on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while Ede is the home town of his main opposition, Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the 2022 Osun governorship election, according to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), is taking place in all the 30 local government areas of the state with 3,763 polling units and 332 registration areas.
The 15 political parties’ candidates participating in the election include: Mr Oyegoke Omigbodun, Social Democratic Party (SDP); Dr Akin Ogunbiyi (Accord); Mr Yusuf Lasun (Labour Party); Munirudeen Atanda (Action Democratic Party) and Busuyi Ayowole of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).

At Iragbiji, voters were seen in large numbers at their polling units, as early as 7.00 a.m, waiting for the arrival of ad hoc staff of INEC to commence accreditation and voting.
At Polling Unit 2 Ward 2, Iragbiji Town Hall, the voters were already stationed at the unit in readiness to cast their vote.
Also, at about 7.30 a.m, voters were seen at Polling Units 7, Opposite WEMA Bank and Polling Unit 6, Osolo Hall, both in Ward 2, to check their names on the pasted INEC voters registers.

The same scenario played out at Unit 2, Ward 1, LA Primary School, Popo, where voters were being educated by INEC ad hoc staff on how to check their names on the pasted voter register, advising them to conduct themselves in orderly manners.
The voters were equally admonished not to sell their votes.
The INEC Presiding Officer, Valentine Awoegbe, also advised the political parties’ agents, election observers and the media to cooperate with the INEC staff, while performing their duties for a hitch-free poll.

There were large numbers of security personnel manning strategic locations in the two major towns to ensure hitch-free conduct of the election.
Restriction of vehicular movement was, however, not noticed in the town as commercial motorcyclists were seen operating freely within the town early in the day before the commencement of voting.
In Ede and its environs, eligible voters were seen rushing to their various polling units as early as 6.30 a.m in readiness to participate in the governorship election amidst tight security.

NAN correspondent, who went round the community reported that many voters were already at their polling units as early as 7.00 a.m, awaiting the arrival of the electoral officers.
There was large presence of security personnel manning strategic locations in the town, while some were seen patrolling the major roads to ensure normalcy at about 6:45 a.m.
Also, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, who would serve as INEC ad hoc staff, were seen in buses conveying them to their various polling units and wards.
At Ward 2, Unit 9, Abogunde area, where Adeleke, the PDP candidate, is expected to cast his vote, voters were already waiting for the commencement of the election.
Also, at Ward 1, Unit 4, Atapara area, voters were seen in large numbers making arrangements for the arrival of INEC officials.
INEC officials started arriving at their locations by 7.00 a.m.
Speaking, Mr Akinwumi Olaniyi said the election would be peaceful, looking at the level of preparedness of INEC and the heavy presence of security personnel.
Also, Miss Abigal Ayoade, on her way to the polling unit, appealed to the electorate not to take laws into their hands, but rather ensure they obeyed all the regulations set aside by the electoral officers.
In Ile-Ife, there was large turnout of residents of the ancient city heading towards their polling units to vote.
There was massive deployment of security agencies to different locations in the town.
Many eligible voters trooped to their polling units as early as 7.30 a.m to ensure that they cast their votes early.
At L.A Primary School, Ilode Ward 11, Unit 007, election materials were on ground in readiness for accreditation and voting

09:27am
 Massive Turnout Amidst Heavy Security 

There is massive turnout of voters amid heavy security. 
In most of the places visited by THISDAY, voters turnout was impressive. 
Polling officials were ready as early as 8 am at the polling centres in Osogbo. 
In some of the polling centres, voting have commenced.
No crisis or violence observed, but many people are apprehensive because of the fierce campaign by the leading parties ahead of the election.
09:20am

PDP Governorship Candidate, Senator Ademola Adeleke, casting his vote at Ward 2 Unit 9 Abogunde Saga, Ede South.
09:19am
Election Officials Arrive Polling Units Early

At Ward 1, Ataoja A, Osogbo local government, voters were addressing themselves before the commencement of voting. At Ward 02, Unit 7, Oke-Bode in Atakumosa West Local Government, INEC officials and security operatives arrived as early as 7am with election materials and set up immediately. 
Olakunle Muhammed, a residents of Osunjela commended electoral Officials for their early arrival. At Ward 02, Unit 7, Oke-Bode in Atakumosa West Local Government, INEC officials and security operatives arrived as early as 7am with election materials and set up immediately. 
Olakunle Muhammed, a residents of Osunjela commended electoral officials  for their early arrival.
09:15am
Tight Security as Voters Troop Down to Polling Units

As over 1.5 million Osun voters are out today to elect the next Governor of Osun State, voters were seeing at the polling centers struggling to retrieve their names in a peaceful manner before the commencement of accreditation at Ode-Omu, Oogi town in Ayedaade Local government area of the State.
However accreditation commenced at 8.30am with security beefed up in all the polling stations accross the state with the presence of personnel of Civil Defence Corps, Army, police and other security agencies.
Electoral officers at Ward 10, Unit  13, Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun state are also ready for commencement of voting.
Meanwhile THISDAY noticed large turnout in most of the polling stations.
At St David Anglican Middle School,Ode-Omu, accreditation commenced without any problem. Voters conducted themselves well.
09:04am
Voters at their polling units

07:10am
Oyetola, Adeleke Go Head to Head as Osun State Votes
*PDP claims APC planning to rig election 
*INEC promises free, fair poll*Police deploy 21,000; NSCDC positions 11,226 men

After weeks of acrimonious campaigns, the people of Osun State will today decide whether Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) should continue for another four years or elect a new man to succeed him.Fifteen political parties are fielding candidates for today’s election, but it is evidently a straight fight between Oyetola and Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).This would be the second time the two candidates would be meeting. Both Oyetola and Adeleke contested for the Osun governorship position in 2018, which Oyetola won after a rerun.The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has assured the people of a free and fair poll and spent most of yesterday moving sensitive voting materials to the 332 registration areas across the 30 local government areas of the state.The election umpire restated its readiness to announce the result in less than 12 hours after the poll.The two leading political parties are desperate to win today’s contest to signpost readiness to dominate the 2023 elections.To underpin the importance of the poll, the presidential candidate of the APC, Bola Tinubu led a final campaign for Oyetola last Tuesday. He was accompanied by party chieftains like the party’s National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, vice presidential candidate, Kashim Shettima and several APC governors.The PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar also led a powerful campaign team to the state on Thursday assuring the people that Adeleke is sure of victory in the poll, and that “an end has come to the reign of the ruling APC” in the country.Atiku was accompanied by the National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu; Vice-presidential candidate of the party and Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and some governors of the PDP.For most of yesterday, tension remained very high across Osun State, with voters bitterly divided among the two leading candidates.Fear of violence was palpable, considering the rancorous campaigns before the poll.The allegations by the PDP that the APC was working to rig the poll dominated discussion across the state.
Police Deploy 21,000 Operatives
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba has assured Nigerians that today’s poll would be violence-free.Baba, who spoke last Tuesday, said to accomplish the task, no fewer than 21,000 operatives would be deployed across the state.Baba warned that the police would not allow any person or group of persons, no matter how highly and lowly placed in the society to derail the electoral process, and vowed that “vote-buying or any form of inducement would not be allowed as they remained serious offences.”The IG adds: “The police will be deployed to protect the facilities of INEC and its personnel. This deployment is not meant to intimidate any law-abiding citizens; rather it is to deter misguided elements that may threaten the conduct of the election and violate the electoral act. It also serves as a strong warning that government is determined to protect the citizens.”The IG has also deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, DIG Johnson Kokumo, for the governorship election.Also deployed to the state are four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police, four Commissioners of Police, 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police, and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police.Baba also moved the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode (temporarily) to the Force Headquarters until the conclusion of the election.

NSCDC deploys 11,226
Similarly, the Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr. Ahmed Audi, has deployed 11,226 officers and men to cover the 3,763 polling units, collation centres, flash points, as well as critical national assets and infrastructure during today’s poll.The deployed personnel were drawn from the national headquarters and nine state commands; Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Oyo, Ogun, Lagos, Kwara, Kogi and Edo to supply manpower for the election.The NSCDC said the objectives of the corps in the election were to create a secured environment for its successful conduct and enhance the general security in the state before, during and after the election.

Oyetola and Adeleke