Osun poll: Adeleke Defeats Oyetola In The Government House Voting Unit.

Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party has defeated Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Government House voting unit in Osogbo (PDP).

PDP received 117 votes, while APC received 106 votes, according to the governorship election score sheet created by Assistant Voting Officer (APO1) Nwachukwu Henrietta Chidinma for the Agowande/ Oshogbo GRA/ Governor’s office polling unit in Olorunda Local Government.

APM 1, PRP 1, SDP 1, and Accord Party 2 are the other parties, along with their scores.

READ ALSO LIVE UPDATE: The Results Of The Osun Governorship Election

05:15pm

Adeleke Wins Unit on Ede in the Polls

Osogbo’s Deji Elumoye

Senator Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is running for governor in 2023, has won in Ede North local government area.

According to the results announced at Polling Unit 09, Ward 02, Abogunde, Ede North LGA, on Saturday afternoon, Adeleke received 218 votes, followed by Adegboyega Oyetola, the incumbent governor and APC candidate, who received 23 votes. The Accord party received one vote.

03:13pm

Voting ends, counting is ongoing

Osogbo’s Deji Elumoye

The majority of Osun State’s 30 local government units have completed their voting in the governor’s race for 2023.

In the state of the living spring, voting stopped at 2.30 p.m., but voters in line are still being allowed to cast ballots with police officers waiting behind the final voter in line.

After the voting process, which started at 9am, the ballot papers will be sorted before the actual counting can begin.

01:56pm

Election Will Be Calm, Senatorial Candidate claims

Raheem Talise, a senatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress in Osun West, characterized the voting process as peaceful and free from any unethical behavior when chatting with our correspondent at Iwo.

He asserted that there had been no reports of the buying or selling of votes in Iwo, that the entire Iwo community belonged to Oyetola, and that based on his accomplishments over the previous three and a half years, he was confident he would win.

He praised the residents of Iwo for their large turnout and added that from the town’s feelers, no reported incidents had occurred. He also praised INEC and the security agencies for their excellent work.

01:20pm

Party Chair: LP Candidate Didn’t Collapse Structure

Osogbo Yinka Kolawole

Lasun Yussuff, the Labour Party’s candidate, has refuted rumors that his group may merge with the People’s Democratic Party.

As you may remember, there was a rumor that he had merged his party with the Peoples Democratic party.

Comrade Adebayo Bello, the party’s chairman, stated that Hon. Yusuf did not collapse any of his structures into the PDP. Those who are disseminating the information are simply delusional.

The chairman declared that he was still competing and believed he could win. He called the suggestion “fake news.”

12:58 pm

Iragbiji Centenarian Votes

Mr. Mustafa Olatunji, who is over 100 years old, was observed on Saturday casting a ballot in the ongoing governorship election at Unit 2, Ward 1, LA Primary School Popo, Iragbiji in the Boripe Local Government area of Osun.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that when voting and accreditation began at around 8.30 a.m., Centenarian Olatunji was clearly the oldest person in the line at the polling place.

Olatunji stated to NAN that he had been voting ever since the passing of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and that it was his civic duty to do so.

He claims that I have been voting since the day Awolowo was born and that I am over 100 years old.

“I am pleased with the voting process and am always inspired to see voters turn out on election day.

The only method by which people may select the leaders they desire is through elections, he claimed. (NAN)

12:16 pm

Candidate for Accord Praises INEC for Calm Election

Osogbo Yinka Kolawole

Dr. Akin Ogunbiyi, the Accord Party’s candidate for governor, has praised INEC for the election’s so far peaceful conduct.

After casting his ballot with his wife at Methodist primary school’s Ile-Ogbo ward 5, unit 3, Ogunbiyi spoke with media.

He claims that out of more than 500 registered voters, only roughly 37 have cast ballots at the AUD polling place. He commanded INEC to make sure all eligible voters cast ballots.

According to the news that reached him, the exercise had been peaceful throughout the state.

He expressed confidence in his ability to win the election and tasked INEC with making sure that every eligible voter casts a ballot before the polls close.

In a same vein, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, the traditional monarch of Iwoland, urged the public to cast their votes intelligently and for the candidate of their choice.

The monarch banned purchasing and selling of votes. However, he claimed that given the amount of poverty in the country, it would be difficult to reduce.

He said that he had ordered all of his subjects to cast their ballots, advising them to forego vote buying and selling.

As he had already pledged, he said he would give Governor Gboyega Oyetola 90,000 votes, noting that the governor had performed admirably in a number of state development initiatives.
However, the king said that the exercise had been peaceful and that his town in Iwo continued to be the most tranquil in all of Nigeria.

12:09 pm

Older people vote and are hopeful for a better Nigeria
Early in the morning, 7:00am, Mr. Adekunle Benjamin, 95, and Mrs. Shabina Oladipo, 90, arrived at their polling places in Oogi town, Ayedaade Local Government Areas, to cast their ballots.

Benjamin said he came out early to vote because he believed in a better Nigeria while speaking at Unit 7, Ward 8, Oogi.  He claimed that in order to vote for his favored candidate, he arrived outside as early as 7:00am.

Benjamin stated that he had been voting since 1952 and that he had gone to the polls to support a stronger economy.

” I am 95 years of age and I had been voting since 1952. I still have faith in this country.

” I am here to exercise my Civic responsibility and to vote for my candidate for better dividend of democracy”, he said.

 

However, Benjamin urged the contenders to not view the election as a life-or-death struggle.

Politics is not a battle; it’s a game. The winner and the loser should perceive themselves as one, he urged, regardless of the election’s outcome.

He praised INEC for arriving at the polling place on time.

Oladipo, who also spoke, stated that she came out early to vote because she wanted to see peace and progress in the state.

She affirmed that she thought her preferred candidate will follow through on his campaign promises.

Oladipo, who stated that he was 90 years old, urged voters to cast their ballots.

The polling unit’s Presiding Officer, Miss Asogwa Ngozika, stated that they reached there at 6:30 am.

According to Ngozika, the electorate was likewise civil.

12:03 pm

Voting is being conducted in Ilesha East.

The voting machines are flawlessly operating, and the poll is proceeding without a hitch in Ward 10, Unit 6, Oro Ajimoko, Ilesa East.

The INEC equipment was in great working order, according to Timothy Owoeye, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly.

12:02 pm

voting for deputy governor

Benedict Alabi, the deputy governor of Osun State, was registered to vote at 10:32 a.m. at his ward 6 unit 7 of Baptist Day School in Ikire.

He said the event was calm and well-organized, with a sizable turnout.

11:56 am

EFCC at Oyetola’s hometown of Iragbiji

Osogbo Yinka Kolawole

In Iragbiji, the hometown of Governor Gboyega Oyetola, the APC candidate for governor of Osun State, several officials from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have come.

At Ward 1, Unit 1 of St. Peter’s Anglican School in Iragbiji, where the governor is scheduled to cast his ballot this morning, no less than six anti-graft agency representatives were seen.

The officers arrived at the location in their official vehicles while donning jackets bearing EFCC logos.

It was assumed that the anti-graft agents’ presence was intended to deter vote-buying.

11:53 am

Voters praise INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has received praise from certain voters in several polling places in Osun State for ensuring that voting and accreditation started early.
Our correspondent’s checks showed that INEC personnel arrived at polling places before 8 a.m., and accreditation began right away.

As voters flocked to the polling places early to exercise their right to vote, there is peace in most of the state that our correspondent saw.

Voters were observed in line for accreditation and voting at 8:00am in Osogbo Local Government Area’s Ward 4, Unit 20, Old Governor’s Office Area.
Speaking with the on-duty INEC presiding officers, they reported that procedures got underway as soon as they arrived at precisely 7:40 am.

Comrade Akinyemi Olatunji, a voter from Ward 6, Unit 7, St. David Primary School, Ode-Omu, Ayedaade Local Government, praised INEC for assuring an early start and noted that voters also showed up on time.

Olatunji, however, claimed that there was a mix-up in the supplies sent to the polling place because a sticker from another polling place adjacent to the elementary school was adhered to the supplies.

An INEC representative for Ayedaade was present, though, to clear up the confusion.

11:47 am

NYSC DG warns Corps Members against malpractice in Osun poll

Brig.-Gen. Muhammad Fadah, the director general of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has cautioned corps members performing election-related duties in the Osun gubernatorial election to strictly adhere to the electoral laws.

This was announced in a statement released on Saturday in Abuja by the program’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mr. Eddy Megwa.
The warning was given by Fadah in Osogbo, according to the statement, while he was speaking to the corps members who had been trained by the Independent National Electoral Commission to serve as ad hoc personnel (INEC).

He added that anyone found wanting would face appropriate sanctions.

Fadah also asked them to maintain their objectivity while diligently carrying out their election-related tasks as good representatives of the NYSC, according to the statement.

“Your colleagues succeeded in Ekiti, and I am confident that you will succeed in Osun State as well.

“Avoid sharp practices, avoid taking gratifications, don’t take sides, play according to the rules of the game and be security conscious,” he said.

It said that Fadah also went to the state’s security organizations to request security for the corps members performing election-related responsibilities.

It was further stated that Fadah praised the friendly relationship between NYSC and the military command at the Army Engineer Construction and Command (ECC) in Ede.

Brig.-Gen. Suleman, the commander, commended the director general for making time to check in on the corps members performing election-related duties.
During and after the election, “we will continue to work with you to ensure the safety of all corps members,” he stated.

The Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) for the Osun election, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, gave the Director General (DG) a guarantee of the highest level of protection for the corps members at the state police headquarters in Osogbo.

He applauded the scheme’s management for providing corps members with national duties.

“Corps members are our children and our priorities,” he declared. We will continue to make every effort to keep them safe. Additionally, while receiving Fadah in his office, Mr. Bankole Alade, the Osun State Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), gave him the assurance of a stronger synergy with NYSC.

The DSS, he continued, would continue to take the necessary precautions to safeguard corps members before, during, and after the elections, including at all corps lodges located within the state.

Additionally, Mr. Mungadi Danladi, the Deputy Controller General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), described the corps personnel as essential resources for the country’s free, fair, and credible election process.

He pledged that the NSCDC will be ready to ensure the safety of corps members throughout the state. (NAN)

11:46 am

I’m confident I’ll prevail. Observes Adeleke

In Osogbo, Chuks Okocha

Ademola Adeleke, a senator for the People’s Democratic Party, expressed his confidence in winning the ongoing race for governor of Osun State after casting his ballot on Saturday.

He cast his ballot at Ward 2 Polling Unit 009, Sagba/Abogunde in the state’s Ede North Local Government Area.

The PDP candidate for governor also praised INEC for enhancing the electoral process.

Adeleke exclaimed, “It’s wonderful. I believe INEC has advanced. Although they have progressed, they still have room for improvement.

It is still early, he stated in reference to vote buying. I am not aware of any instances, and we sincerely hope that nothing of the sort occurs since we want this election to serve as a focal point for 2023. This election will serve as a test case for the entire globe to observe. So, let the Osun people choose whoever they like. When we met with INEC, they gave us their word that this election would not go as well as the one in Ekiti. They pledged that this election would be open, quiet, free, and fair.

He expressed confidence that he will win the election despite the covert vote-buying operation.

He said, “I am not afraid, and I am convinced that I will win the election.”

11:39 am

Governor Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state voting at his ward L A Primary School Oloiyi Popo, ward 1 polling unit 002, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area during Osun state Governorship election Saturday 16 July 2021

Oyetola Casts His Ballot and Applauds INEC for a Calm Election

Osogbo’s Deji Elumoye

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been praised by Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for the orderly conduct of the state’s gubernatorial election.

In the Popo neighborhood of Iragbiji, Boripe local government area of the state of the living spring, Oyetola, who is running for re-election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), cast his ballot at 10.55 am after being accredited at polling unit 01ward one at Local Authority primary school.

The governor claimed that the governorship election is peaceful throughout the state in a conversation with reporters after casting his ballot.

11:14 am
At around 10.45am, the Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and his wife came.
Akin Ogunbiyi, a candidate for the Accord Party, cast his ballot at Methodist Primary School in Ward 5, Ile-Ogbo.
11:13 am

Voting and Accreditation are ongoing in Ifelodun

In Osogbo, Chuks Okocha

At 8:00 a.m., the presiding officer was spotted speaking to voters in Ward 4 Unit 6 Ifelodun LGA.

Voting and accreditation commenced at 8:30 a.m.

In 8:23 am, the presiding officer addressed the electorate at the Ward 4 Unit 3 Oke Afo Ifelodu LGA collation center. Voting and accreditation commenced at 8:30 a.m.

The list contained 1599 voters.

Voters created lines along the O and A (Oyetola and Adeleke) axis.

at the Ward 1 PU2 Popo polling place in the Oyetola polling unit of the Boripe LGA.

Voting and accreditation commenced at 8:35 a.m.

1,457 voters are registered.

Oyetola has not voted in Osun’s decision.

Osogbo’s Deji Elumoye

At 10:22 on Saturday, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola had not yet cast his ballot.

Oyetola, an APC candidate for governor in Osun State, has not yet appeared for accreditation at LEA elementary school, Popo, Igbaji in the local government area of Boripe.

He is anticipated to cast his ballot in Ward 1, Polling Unit 02

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 

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

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.

09:15am

Tight Security as Voters Troop Down to Polling Units

Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

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.

Election officials in Osun State’s Ward 10, Unit 13, Egbedore Local Government Area are also prepared to start voting.

THISDAY observed high turnout at the majority of the polling places in the interim.

Accreditation began at St. David Anglican Middle School, Ode-Omu, without incident.Voters displayed good behavior.

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

Charles Ajunwa in Lagos, Chuks Okocha and Yinka Kolawole in Osogbo

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, 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.

PDP Alleges APC Is Preparing to Rig the Election In a statement released yesterday, the PDP accused the APC of orchestrating a scheme “to sabotage the will and desire of the people for a free, fair, transparent, and credible electoral process” in today’s Osun State poll. The party claimed in a statement released by Debo Ologunagba, its national publicity secretary, that the APC had intensified its election rigging program by using billions of naira to intimidate voters, compromise some security officials, and manipulate the voting process in order to disproportionately favor Oyetola against the will of the people.

In order to prevent a breakdown in law and order, the PDP urged the IG and Yakubu to “take immediate decisive steps to check the activities of police and INEC officials deployed to Osun State, especially given the manifest determination of the people of Osun State to resist the APC on its evil scheme.”