Some Crisis, But Governorship Election in Oyo State Peaceful

Governorship, House of  Assembly and Ibadan North West/South West Federal Constituency election held today in Oyo State amidst pocket of crisis as the elections recorded a high turn out.

Among the areas of the state where crisis were said to have been recorded were Ogbomosho, Ibadan East, Iwo Road and Olomi Areas of Ibadan, Iseyin, and Atiba in Oyo town.

There were allegations that over 60 suspects have been arrested in connection with electoral offences across the state but it was difficult confirming the actual arrest so far made as the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Tunji Ajimuda could not offer any confirmation.

PM NEWS saw three hoodlums that were arrested by about ten policemen at Kudeti, Ibadan in the compound of the Oyo State Deputy Governor, Honourabler Taofeek Arapaja.

But the Oyo State Commissioner of Police in Charge of Election, Mr. Salihu Hashimu Argungu confirmed that some suspects were arrested in Oyo and Iseyin stressing that he did not have full detail of their involvement in election malpractices.

PM NEWS confirmed that 30 suspects were arrested in Iwo road with ballot papers as well as 22 suspects Iseyin with ballot papers, ballot boxes and dangerous weapons but whom they were working for were not known at the time of filing this report.

An unconfirmed report has it that agents of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) were driven away from the poling units at Stadium and Apake in Ogbomosho by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) thugs.

There was crisis in Ward 11, Ibadan east council area, where PDP agents asked people that have been given money to show their ballot papers to be sure that they voted for Honorable Olunloyo for Federal House of Representatives. This was kicked against by the electorate and other party agents and peace was eventually restored with the intervention of the police who ordered that nobody should display his ballot papers and this delayed voting in the unit till after 4pm.

Another unconfirmed report revealed that the son of Chief Lamidi Adedibu was arrested for moving around Ibadan city and taken to Mapo police station for interrogation.

However, the three governorship candidates, Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala of PDP, Senator Rasheed Ajimobi of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and Senator Rasheed Ladoja of Accord Party as well as the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Honourable Taofeek Arapaja adjudged the election peaceful.

While Akala adjudged the conduct of the governorship election was satisfactory, Ladoja said that apart from pocket of crisis, the election was peaceful. He condemned politicians who have been misinforming people about him saying that he never stepped down for anybody and he has never had any negotiation with Akala that if he wins, he would work with him.

Ladoja stressed that if he lost in a fair contest, he would accept the result of the election adding, “I will abide by the voice of the people”.

Senator Ajimobi lauded INEC and security operatives especially the police and soldiers for policing the state very well during the election. Confirming a large turn out, he condemned acts of thuggery, snatching of ballot papers and boxes recorded during the election.

Also, the leader of ACN, Alhaji Lam Adesina charged the police to investigate those that were arrested.

However, voters are anxious to know the result of the election as counting has started in some polling units and concluded in others at the time of filing this report.
By Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan