The governorship election held in Osun state, Saturday, has been commended widely, particularly by the governorship candidates.
Residents also commended the early arrival of security and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who is the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC), after casting his vote at ward 01, unit 02, Iragbiji in Boripe local government, expressed confidence that he would be reelected for the second term.
“I’m confident that I will be reelected by the grace of Almighty God,” Oyetola stated.”
Meanwhile, Oyetola won his polling units. He got 545 out of a total valid vote of 622 casts at Unit 2, Ward 1, LA Primary School Popo, Iragbiji, and Boripe local government area. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) got 69 votes while ADP polled 05 in the unit.
The governorship candidate of PDP, Senator Ademola Adeleke, who voted at Ward 2, unit 9, in Abogunde Saga Ede South, assured his supporter of victory and urged them to calm down for the election to be counted.
Adeleke told his supporters who ran after his convoy after voting to return to the polling centre, stating that INEC may cancel his votes as campaign activities have stopped.
However, Adeleke won in his polling unit. He scored a total of 218 votes to defeat the candidate of the APC who polled a total of 23 votes in the unit at Ward 02, polling unit 009, Sagba/Abogunde, in the Ede North local government area
The governorship candidate of the Accord Party (AP), Dr Akin Ogunbiyi, also commended the process and progress of the election.
He spoke to journalists after casting his vote at Ward 05, unit 03, Methodist Primary School, Ile-Ogbo, in Ayedire local government.
He said, “the process has been peaceful and progress is being made. I however want the process stepped up to accommodate all eligible voters within the time. The turnout has been massive and impressive. The report across the state shows that it has been peaceful.”
The candidate of Accord Party (AP), Akin Ogunbiyi won his unit 003, Ward 005, Methodist Primary school, Ile-Ogbo in Ayedire local government area.
Ogunbiyi got 125 against 89 votes recorded by the candidate of the APC while PDP scored 63 in the unit.
The National Secretary of the APC, Senator Iyiola Omisore, won his polling unit with a slight margin.
APC polled 192 at St Gabriel School, Ile-Ife, Ife East, unit 3 where he voted and PDP got 168.
Also, in St Gabriel unit 4, APC got 186 while PDP scored 162.
The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Lausn Yusuf, won his polling unit for Labour Party (LP). He got 177 votes to beat other contestants in Polling Unit 4, Ward 05, Irepodun local government area. The APC scored 119 votes while the PDP got 98 votes.
The former governor of Osun State and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, boycotted the election.
When our correspondent visited his voting centre at ward 08, unit 01, Ifofin, Ilesa, Ilesa East Local Government, voters were still expecting Aregbesola.
One of the voters in the area who pleaded anonymity said he usually comes to the town two days before the election.
His name and that of his family appeared on the voter registration list pasted at the polling unit.
But, some women were frying bean cake (Akara) in from of his house and they declined to answer the question on the whereabouts of the Minister.
Meanwhile, one of his aides and brother, who was at a polling unit close to the Minister’s house, allegedly worked for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
However, APC won in the polling unit where Aregbesola usually votes. APC won with 164 to defeat PDP who scored 134.
