Some voters in Osun have berated the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) for the poor conduct of the local government election in the state.

The electorate, who spoke with journalists on Saturday, said that during the election period, the commission’s ad hoc staff were not at most polling units, so they could not exercise their civic rights.

Tinumola Tijani, an electorate who spoke at Unit 11, Ward 3, Asubuaro, Osogbo, said that it was unfortunate that she could not cast her vote.

Mrs Tijani, who was at her polling unit before 9:00 a.m. to cast her vote, said that there was no staff of the commission to attend to her.

She said that the election fell below the expectations of the electorate in the state.

Another electorate, Yemi Akindele, said no OSSIEC ad hoc staff was available to attend to voters at Unit 17, Ward 4, Cele junction, Owode-Ede, described the election as a jamboree.

Mr Akindele said he left home early to cast his vote but encountered no one at the polling unit to assist him.

“This is unfortunate. What kind of election is this? I am highly disappointed,” he said.

There were no OSSIEC staff in most of the polling units visited in Ife, Osogbo, Obokun, and Owode-Ede, among others.

In Ede, the home town of the governor, the situation was a bit different.

The electorate were seen in some of the polling units visited, with OSSIEC ad hoc staff attending to them.

At Obalaoye Grammar School, Unit 2, Ward 4, some electorate were seen on the queue at 8:00 a.m., waiting to cast their votes.

Also, Oloba Atapara Unit 6, Ward 1, witnessed a turnout of a few voters waiting to be accredited and to cast their votes.

During the election, many residents defied the restriction of vehicular movement order from 5:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as vehicles were seen moving about without hindrance.

Many traders and shop owners also opened for business.

As of 10:30 a.m., the election had ended in most of the polling units visited.

(NAN)