After months of rigorous preparation by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and months of campaigns by political parties and their candidates, the Ondo State governorship election holds today.
Residents are expected to gather at different polling units within the state to determine who will govern them for another four years.
It is either the continuity of the incumbent governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, or the election of a new governor from a different party.
Though INEC has said there will be names of 17 political parties on the ballot papers, only three are major contenders.
Asides Mr Akeredolu of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the other two are Eyitayo Jegede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Agboola Ajayi of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Four years ago, Mr Akeredolu and Mr Ajayi contested on a joint ticket to defeat Mr Jegede. But Mr Ajayi, who is the incumbent deputy governor, switched parties in the build up to today’s election to challenge his boss and Mr Jegede.
While INEC said there 1,822,346 registered voters, only 1,478,460 PVCs were collected and they will be the eligible voters in today’s poll.
For effective coverage, Newsflash247 will be bringing our readers updates on the election as it happens from 3,009 polling units in 203 wards of all 18 local government areas in the state.
In Akure, voters are checking their names on voters lists pasted on the wall at polling units 8 and 9 Akure south, Cathedral area.
Rain disrupts voting process in Akeredolu’s hometown
Early morning rain in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has disrupted voting activities in the town.
Owo is the hometown of the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Rotimi Akeredolu.
Electoral and security officials, and voters were seen across various polling centers taking shelter under sheds.
At polling unit 6, ward 5, where the governor is billed to vote, the presiding officer, Nimota Amodu, defied the rain to declare the voting opened at exactly 8:37a.m.
However, rather than addressing voters ahead of the commencement of the voting process, the presiding officer chose to address the journalists who had taken over the canopy prepared for voting.
But some voters who took cover at various houses near the polling unit, have started voting at the unit. Out of all the units visited so far, only the governor’s polling centre has commenced voting as of the time of filing this report.
An Electoral official reading out the dos and don’ts before the commencement of the Election at St Luke’s CAC Primary School, Prison qtrs/ Ajagbule Ijebu 11, Owo where Governor Akeredolu will be voting.
In Ondo East LGA, Bolorunduro ward 3
Polling unit 8, St. Philips Primary School, Omiluri
Voting is about to commence here and the PO is addressing the voters further stating that any of the agents should please provide them with water and soap so that it will enable the card reader to verify their fingerprints. He also reminded them of the COVID-19 guidelines with the help of an interpreter.
In Ifedore LGA, At Ward 03, PU 004, voters complaining about the slow actions of the voting officials as the sun begins to heat them.
