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Rerun-Election: Ondo peacefully conducted amidst heavy security

Today’s bye election in Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Federal Constituency, in Ondo state, was generally peaceful and conducted under heavy security.
It also witness a large turn out of voters across the two council areas.
Recall that seat became vacant following appointment of Hon Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Interior.
Voting materials arrived polling units as early as 8am while voting commenced at 8:30am in many polling units visited.
Heavy security presence manned the major roads entering the two council areas as early as 7am.
The Security agencies including Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC) and Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) and Nigeria Army (NA) were stationed at strategic locations in the two councils.
Personnel of Police and civil defence were also seen at polling centres, just as security men in patrol vehicles were also on ground.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived early at most of the polling centres while many electorate were seen checking their names on the voters register pasted on walls and boards.
Commercial activities in the two council areas were grounded following the restriction order by the police.
Speaking with newsmen on the assessment of the election, the INEC National Commissioner supervising Osun, Ogun and Ondo State, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, lauded lauded the turnout of voters in the by-election.
Ajayi said “From what we have observed since morning, the election is going on peacefully, and the turnout is impressive, no violence, no vote buying anywhere.
“So, we have not recorded any terrible incident since the start of the election and by grace of God everything will end peacefully
“Everywhere we have been to, there was no report of challenges with the BVAS machine or cases of it malfunctioning.
Speaking with newsmen after voting at Ward 4, Polling Unit 2, Oyin Akoko, Akoko North-West Local Government Area, Ehindero also applauded security agencies for professionalism, describing the election as peaceful.
Ehindero said that “ The report we are hearing is that the whole process is peaceful and all have been professional and being of good conduct so far.
“The voters turnout have been averagely good and we hope it will improve before the end of the exercise,” he said.
He said he was optimistic that he would emerge victorious at the end of the exercise.
Tha candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Lekan Bada, said “Where I voted in Ward 01, Unit 12 in Ikare-Akoko is very peaceful. I voted around 10:00 a.m., and voting had been going on smoothly. The security arrangement was perfect.
“Due to the rotational agreement, it is the turn of Akoko North-East. If it goes to the North-West, it will take 11 years to come back to the North-East. So, I have the advantage.
“It is our turn to produce the next House of Representatives member,” he said.
The PDP, therefore, appraised the INEC for a peaceful and organised conduct of the election.
The state Chairman of the Ondo APC, Eng. Ade Adetimehin, commended INEC and security operatives for the first conduct of a election.
Adetimehin said the APC would win the election landslide because many PDP chieftains have defected to the APC.
“Under my chairmanship, the APC has harvestrd chieftains of the PDP and would continue to deplete their camps.
“We’ve been able to hold the party together and by the special grace of God, we’ll coast home to victory in the November governorship election.”
Commenting on the election, a Chieftain of the APC, Dr Tunji Abayomi, said that the voting had been peaceful and with no reported hitches.
Abayomi, voted at Unit 7, Ward 3, Oke Agbo in Akoko North-West council area
Two APC leaders, Muyiwa Asaguna and Oyeniyi Oseni, said the party has campaigned vigorously to emerge victorious at the poll.
Asagunls, who is the Chairman, APC Campaign Council in the constituency, said that INEC officials had been up and doing.
Asagunla, who cast his vote at Unit 7, Ward 3, Oke Agbo in Akoko North-West Local Government area, said that he was impressed with the conduct of the election and voter turnout.
According to him “We really campaigned vigorously, from the unit level to the local government level.
“We did a very good job to convince people to vote for APC and that is why we are seeing large turnout today and I am not surprised about it because if you know what you’ve done to mobilize the people, you should be confident that your people are with you and will vote to support our candidate. So, I think we are good.