Osun Election: Rauf Aregbesola In Early Lead As Voting Ends

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state has taken an early lead as the gubernatorial election reaches a climax. Cumulative results as at 6:17 p.m. reveals that the incumbent governor leads the pack.

His party, the All Progressives Congress has so far recorded 213,465 against 150,553 of his main contender Senator Iyiola Omisore of the Peoples Democratic Party.

NAN reports that collation of results at polling centres  commenced in most polling centres across Osun amidst tight security. Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel as well as party supporters and agents witnessed the exercise. Voters were still voting in some few polling units as at 4 p.m., several others had commenced collating their results.

At Ward 4, Unit 5 and Ward 5 Unit 11 in Jolayemi area of the capital, and Ataoja Palace in Osogbo, voting ended at about 3.12 p.m. and collation of results commenced.

A voter at Ward 4, in Jolayemi area of Osogbo, Mr Sola Adeoye, expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election and collation of results.
It was observed that hundreds of party supporters exploded in jubilation at various centres where some results were announced by presiding officers. The exercise began at Ward 4, Unit 19 and 20, Old governor’s office in Osogbo around 4.30 p.m.
At CAC Oke-Anu Ward 3, Unit 4 Modakeke-Ife, Mr Dada Ayanwale commended INEC for its improvement, saying the conduct of the election was encouraging because it was free, fair and credible.

The exercise started early in many polling units in Ilesa East and Ilesa West. Counting of votes started in some of the polling units at about 3 p.m.

At unit 08, Iloro/Iroye, counting of votes started at about 3pm while counting at Unit 003, Ogbon Idio, started at about 3:15 p.m.

The counting of votes also commenced at Unit 2, Customary Court at about. 3:33 p.m. There were also reports that the process of accreditation and voting was peaceful in all the polling units visited.

Mr Demola Adeyeye, an observer from Cleen Foundation, said the election went well and commended INEC for the peaceful conduct of the election. Also speaking, Mr Emmanuel Adeniran, an observer from Reclaim Niger, said the election was conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

A PDP party agent, Mr Oluwaseun Oni, said he was satisfied with the conduct of INEC officials, saying the result was credible.

An APC party agent, Mrs Victoria Olaide, said the electoral process was credible, adding that she was satisfied with the outcome.
Across many parts of Ile-Ife, the home town of PDP flagbearer, Sen. Iyiola Omisore, collation of result commenced in many polling units.
At Ward 1 Unit 19 in Moore, Ile-Ife, the Presiding Officer, Aigoro Abimbola, said the conduct was commendable while the collation process was going on smoothly.

A primary school teacher, Mrs Iyabode Oyewole, also commended INEC for ensuring a credible electoral process.

Oyewole, however, urged the Federal Government to put in place adequate security measures ahead of other elections in the country.

Also speaking, a pensioner, Mr Faleye Olayinka, described the election as the best so far in the country, adding that INEC had set a good record for itself.