Voting has begun in Saturday’s bye-election in Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency to fill the House of Representatives seat vacated by Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.  

The seat became vacant after Mr Tunji-Ojo was appointed a minister by the President Bola Tinubu.   

Peoples Gazette reports that the poll started at exactly 8:15 am as voters were seen in their numbers exercising their franchise. 

Recall that the Inspector-General of Police ordered the restriction of vehicular movement in the constituencies where elections would take place today between 12 am and 6 pm. 

Other security agencies deployed their personnel to maintain law and order during the exercise.  

The Gazette reports that some of the voters were sighted at Ikado 2, Unit 5, in Ugbe Akoko while the electoral officials were also on the ground to accredit the electorate to cast their votes. 

The situation was also similar in Unit 2

Ward 4 Oyin/Oge, Akoko North West LGA where the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Ifedayo Ehindero, voted.  

Many of the voters expressed optimism of a free, fair and credible poll. 

Speaking after casting his vote, Mr Ehindero expressed confidence in winning the election.   

“I have just cast my vote and the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System works perfectly here at Unit 2, Ward 4 in Oyin. So, I’m very optimistic about victory at the end of the day. 

“It’s a federal constituency election and the jostling is to represent our people at the National Assembly. The former occupant (Tunji-Ojo) did well here and I have the mandate of my people to replace him and begin from where he dropped the baton. So, I’ll surely win,” he said.  

The Independent National Electoral Commission said it was conducting today’s bye-election in 329 polling units of the federal constituency. 

In the bye-election, a total of 8 political parties and their candidates are contesting to replace Mr Tunji-Ojo in the federal constituency.