Electorates in Ogun State performed their civic rights on Saturday, by electing 20 local government chairmen and 236 councillorship seats in the November 16 election across the state.
The election conducted by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) was characterised by various discrepancies such as late arrival of materials and absence of electoral officers in many polling units in some council areas in the State.
While electorates arrived early awaiting the arrivals of election materials and officials of OGSIEC for the conduct of the election.
At Unit 3, Ward 3 Iregun in Ikenne Local Government Area of Ogun State, Commissioner election commenced at about 10.30am.
Reports monitored across the State by the Sunday Tribune indicated that election started very late in most council areas due to late arrival of materials.
There were no reports of electoral violence at the time of filing this report because there were heavy presence of security personnel at strategic areas in the state.
Meanwhile, the Ogun State government, has hailed the local government election across the state as peaceful and orderly.
In a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the State Governor, Lekan Adeniran, the LG poll took off as scheduled and a good note.
According to him, election materials arrived on schedule in polling units surveyed in major cities such as Abeokuta, the state capital; Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Ota and Ilaro, contrary to the report of late arrival of materials.
“Findings across the state have not shown any incident of voter harassment or ballot box snatching so far.
“This contradicts the false alarm raised by a major opposition party in the state to the effect that the election has been bedevilled by violence.
“Some voters, however, complained of late arrival of materials even as officials of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) across the state said materials have reached all polling units in the State and they expected voters to come out in large numbers and exercise their franchise,” the statement stated.
Governor Abiodun commended residents for continuous support for democracy
Also, the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has commended the peaceful conduct of the LG poll and lauded residents of the state for turning out to exercise their franchise in Saturday’s local government elections in the 20 local government areas .
Abiodun spoke to newsmen after casting his vote at Unit 2, Ward 2, Ita Osanyin, Iperu-Remo in Ikenne Local Government Area of the state.
The governor said that the turnout had shown the people’s continuous support for democracy.
He expressed optimism that when the election result would be released, the people would be happy.
Abiodun, however, stated that reports and feedback on the election had been diligent while appreciating the Ogun State Independence Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) for its level of preparedness for the election .
“The feedback we have gotten has been very diligent.
“In any elections , we can’t rule out logistics hiccups but by and large electoral materials reached all the nooks and crannies of the state and voting had commenced in harness.
“I want to commend our law enforcement agencies. I have seen the presence of the police, civil defence, Department of State Security and Amotekun Corps. I want to commend them for working collaboratively to ensure we have a peaceful election today .
“Also, I want to thank the people of Ogun State who have come out in their numbers. I see this as a vote of confidence particularly at this time.
I want to thank them for their continuous support for democracy and I am confident that when the election is concluded, when the people have expressed their choice through the ballot, everybody will be happy,” Abiodun submitted.
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