Impressive turn out for Ondo governorship poll

There was an impressive turnout of voters as the accreditation process for the Ondo governorship election got underway on Saturday.

A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) across the three senatorial districts indicated a large turnout of enthusiastic  voters.
In Akure Ward 10,  Units  1 and 2, a NAN correspondent sighted  long queues  of  voters as  at 8:05 a.m while INEC officials as well as security men were at their duty posts.
Also in Ward 9, Unit 6, Iworo Junction, there was a long queue of voters  going through the accreditation process as at 8:45 a.m.
A NAN correspondent also sighted a long queue of voters at Ward 7, Unit 4, Arakale area, where  there was  a large turnout of  voters who were being accredited as at 8:55 a.m.
However, in Ward 2, Unit 33, a large number of voters were seen waiting for INEC officials   who were yet to arrive as at 8:35 a.m.

There was,however, a heavy presence of security men including  policemen and  NSCDC  officials.
But, while accreditation was going on at Ward 9, Unit 6,  INEC officials  and materials were yet to arrive at Ward 9, Unit 5 and 7, with aggrieved voters openly complaining about the pace of accreditation.
In Ondo Ward 7, Unit 20, Ondo Central  Senatorial District, where Gov. Olusegun Mimiko  was  accredited at about 10:30 am,  there was a massive turnout of voters.
There was also a massive presence of security officials although there was  free human movement across polling units.
Accreditation also commenced on schedule while  the ad hoc INEC official at the polling unit, Mr Ajayi Alaba, said adequate personnel and materials were already on the ground.
Alaba, an NYSC member, said voters were also conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
The governor’s mother, Mrs Muinat Mimiko, was  brought on a wheel chair for accreditation, advised the electorates to conduct themselves in an orderly manner.
In Orun Ward 1, Akoko North East Local Government, Ondo North Senatorial District,  there was a large turn out  of voters with accreditation starting at about 8: am.
There was also total paralysis of business activities as shops and other business outfits remained shut.
However, in Orun Ward 1, Unit 5, Akoko North East Local Government, voters could not find their names on the register.
The ad hoc INEC official at the unit and NYSC member, Miss Oluchi Osuala, who confirmed the development, told NAN that efforts were on  to  resolve the problem.
A voter, Mr Dauda Ishola, said it was inexplicable that some names were missing on the voters’ register, urging that this should be promptly investigated.
But in Ikado Ward 1,Akoko North East Local Government, accreditation started at 8:15 am with an impressive turn out of voters.
Also, there was a massive turnout at Iyomata Ward 1 in Ikare Ikun polling unit while there was a heavy security presence.
At Ikoya/Oloto Polling Unit in Okitipupa Local Government, Ondo South Senatorial District, more than 50 voters were sighted as at 8:28 am while the INEC presiding official, Mr Olufemi Ajiboye, said there were adequate materials and personnel for the poll.
NAN  also observed that armed security men mounted road blocks at various strategic spots in Okitpupa township.
In Igbotako, also in Okitipupa Local Government Area, there were long queues of voters while accreditation commenced in some polling units as at 8:10 am
In Ward 3, Unit 5, Olori/Otunmara, Ilaje Local Government Area, the PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olushola Oke, was accredited at about 10: 30 am by the presiding officer, Mr Tomi Dosunmu.
He, however, complained about the handling of the accreditation process in the river side  areas of the state, claiming that it was taking officials about 30 minutes to accredit one voter.
Oke, however, commended the people of the area for their peaceful conduct.
NAN reports that INEC materials arrived late at about 9:30 am with some voters expressing displeasure at the development.
In Owo, Ondo North Senatorial District, there was also a massive turn out of voters while there was a visible presence of security men.
At Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Unit 16 , accreditation started only at 10:10 am while NAN correspondent sighted students waiting for the exercise on the queue.
The presiding officer at the unit, Mr Chukwuwak  Mark, said there was a serious  delay in the supply of materials by INEC, assuring that with the supply of the materials, accreditation was commencing in earnest.
But in Unit 5, Rainbow Junction in Owo, accreditation was going on when NAN correspondent arrived the scene at about 10: 20 am.
NAN also reports that ACN governorship candidate, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, was accredited at the Unit 6,Oke Ijebu GRA Owo polling unit at 10 am.