Ogun

Late arrival of voting materials,voters apathy, mar Ogun council polls

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Low turnout of voters and late arrival of sensitive materials marred the just concluded local government elections in Ogun state.

THE ENCOUNTER NEWS observed that, the voting did not commenced in some local governments until 10am due to late arrival of sensitive materials.

However, the poll was largely peaceful as there was no record of violence or security breach during the election.

Officials of the Ogun Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) arrived some of the polling units late, thereby delaying commencement of election in many areas.

Voter materials arrived late amidst low voters turnout in the state capital Abeokuta.

When our correspondent visited Oba ward 7 PU 1 at about 2pm, less than five voters were seen on the queue and a pip into the ballot boxes showed scanty thumb printed ballot papers.

The Chief of Staff to Ogun State Governor, Shuaib Salis attributed the initial delays due to logistics, but believed the turnout was encouraging and delightful.

In Iperu, the hometown of Governor Dapo Abiodun in Ikenne Local government area of the State, residents violated the restriction of movement order of the State government, as they went about their normal businesses.

There was unhindered vehicular movement and many shop owners opened for business and were seen attending to their customers.

At the Abeokuta-Sagamu expressway, a joint security team, comprising military officers, police, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and Amotekun corps had a difficult time in enforcing the restriction of movement order of the government as passengers and motorists insisted on traveling into the state.

As at 10.30 am when our correspondent arrived the Ita-Osanyin, ward 3, unit 2 where the Governor later cast his vote, only 98 voters out of the 826 registered voters had voted.

In Ogun West Senatorial district, the situation was the same in Yewa North local government area of the State as residents preferred to engage in other activities .
Source:Encounter

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