Streets Deserted as Ondo Gubernatorial Election Kicks Off Amid Police Restrictions

Major streets in Akure the Ondo State capital are deserted as voters make final preparations to cast their ballots in the state’s governorship election.

A tour by THISDAY showed that an unusual calmness pervaded the ever-busy Oba Osupa, Oba Adesida, Arakale, Ijoka, Oyemekun and other major roads in the metropolis.

Particularly, the streets, which was usually filled vehicular movements, business activities, with the sounds and sights of typical city is noticeably subdued as the electorates gear up for the poll.

However, the development, apparently is in compliance with the restriction order of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, who ordered restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation.

The restriction, he said, would commence from 6am to 6pm on election day, with the exception of those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.

Egbetokun had said it was part of efforts to guarantee peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process during the Ondo off-circle elections.

He also ordered the prohibition of security aides and escorts attached to VIPs from accompanying them to polling booths and collation centres to prevent disruptions.

Personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Army, Department of State Services, were stationed in strategic locations including NEPA roundabout, Oshiomhole roundabout and First Bank (Alagbaka) to maintain peace and ensure the electoral process runs smoothly.

Nevertheless, some voters were seen at their various polling units waiting to ensure all necessary logistics were in place before they exercise their franchise.

It was also observed that there was early arrival of electoral officials.

As at 7:59am in Polling unit: 003 Ibewari 1, Post Office Office Premises, ward 14 -Oba1, Akoko South West LGA, voters were seen checking their names on the published voter register.

The electoral umpire has reassured the public of its readiness to conduct a credible election and urged voters to maintain patience and order as the day unfolds.

INEC also said it deployed 4,002 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines for the exercise and has additional 812 BVAS machines as reserve in case any of the deployed machines developed faults.

There are 3,933 polling units and 222 collation centres, consisting of 203 ward centres, 18 Local government areas and the state collation centre in Akure.

A total of 1, 757,205 (86.5%) residents of the sunshine state are expected to head to the polls today to choose a governor who will rule the state for another four years.

Pointedly, 18 political parties, including the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, are on the ballot but 17 parties are fielding candidates in today’s poll.

They include the incumbent governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC); former deputy governor, Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olugbenga Edema of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); ZLP’s Dr Abbas Mimiko, who is the younger brother of the former governor of the state, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; Otitoloju Akinmurele of Young Progressives Party, among others.

Interestingly, the winner will occupy Alagbaka Government House after the expiration of the current dispensation on February 25, 2025.

Be as it may, all eyes remain in the coastal state to see how the process unfolds as voting gets underway.

Fidelis David

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