Saturday’s Akure North/Akure South Federal Constituency by-election recorded a large turnout of voters in most polling units. The electorate applauded INEC for the early commencement of the exercise.

Election commenced at about 8:30 a.m. in most polling units visited in the Oba-Ile area of Akure North Local Government and the Arakale area of Akure South Local Government.

Yekini Akanbi, an 80-year-old voter at Unit 10, Ward 2 in Akure South Local Government, commended the timely and peaceful process of the exercise.

Also, Florence Babalola, aged 92, at Unit 10, Ward 2, Akure South Local Government, said that the process was seamless, saying that she believed it would lead to success at the end of the exercise.

Biometrics Voters Accreditation (BVA) was being used and working perfectly without any complaint at Unit 10, Ward 2.

Speaking to NAN, Ruth Kehinde, the presiding officer at Unit 2, Ward 9, Second Gate, Oba-Ile, said voting commenced at 8:30 a.m. with a significant turnout of voters.

Ms Kehinde said that the electorate cooperated and complied with the COVID-19 protocols.

Similarly, at Unit 1, Ward 9, Housing Estate, Oba-Ile, voting started at 8:45 a.m; while voting started at 8:30 a.m. at Unit 006, Ward 9, OSRC l, ll, lll in Oba -Ile.

The assistant presiding officer, Kevin Tumulo, who commended the electorate for their peaceful conduct, said that as at 9:33 a.m., many of the voters had turned out to cast their votes.

As of 8:00 a.m., security agencies were seen patrolling major roads in Akure, the state capital.

There were no vehicular activities as residents complied with the restriction order by the state government.

Men of the Nigeria Army were also seen at strategic positions with their armoured tanks parked inside Mobil filling station on Oba-Ile road. 

(NAN)