Osun LG Election: Why OSIEC Officials Arrived Voting Centres Late In Ile-Ife

Voting commenced at some wards in the state after most officials of the Osun state Independent Electoral Commission arrived voting centres late with sensitive and non sensitive materials on Saturday.

OSIEC Chairman, Mr Segun Oladitan

The poll started around 9.05am in some wards, one hour behind the expected 8:00am.

Explaining reasons why OSIEC officers arrived polling units late, one of the Presiding officers at Akarabata Ward 10, comprising of 12 units, Mr. Isaac Adedokun told journalists that there were mixed up at OSIEC office while sensitive and non sensitive materials were being distributed to wards.

Voters who had arrived the centres early were disappointed at the late arrival of the commission’s officials.

Other presiding officers  at the Akarabata Ward 10, with 643 registered voters confirmed that there were mixed up at the OSIEC centre with the sensitive materials.

As at 9:27am when our correspondent arrived Akarabata, Ward 10 consisting of 12 units, electoral officers were just arriving.

Speaking with newsmen, the Chairman of Accord Party in Osun state, Hon. Fanibe alleged that there neither election officers nor voting materials at his polling unit at Remo, Ward 7, unit 3.
Fanibe, while speaking with journalists at the ward, said the ward is his stronghold claiming that opposition party were trying to frustrate victory of Accord party in the poll.

Confirming this argument, a Policeman attached to the ward who identified himself as Akintoba Joseph said he arrives the voting centre at 8:00am and had not seen any OSIEC official or election materials.

Also speaking in the same vein, the Accord party agent at the ward who identified himself as Olaiwon Adewole said he had been expecting OSIEC officials with materials and that they were yet to arrive the ward.

But refuting the allegations, a former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Hon. Sikiru Ayedun, who was at his More ward 1, unit 10 to cast his ballot said nobody was disenfranchised in Ile-Ife.
Describing the poll as peaceful, Ayedun told journalists that the election officers were doing well.

The former commissioner however did not agree that the parliamentary system of government introduced for the councillorship election is alien to voters and the people of the state.

Sikiru said the new system of government reduces cost of governance.