The Ondo Election began on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. in the state’s Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West Local Government Areas, with a strong voter turnout. Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were seen at several of the polling stations visited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) catering to voters.
At 8:30 a.m., the election began in Iyometa Ward 1, Unit 1; Iyometa Ward 2, Unit 007; and Ikado Ward 2, Unit 5 in Ikare-Akoko, as well as Ugbe Akoko, Ward 3, Unit 2. Speaking with the NAN, Vincent Ugboma, the Presiding Officer (PO) at Ikado Ward 1, Unit 001, stated that there was a minor delay due to the BVAS failing, but the problem had been resolved.
Ugboma stated that voters began to arrive in significant numbers, and that by 9.00 a.m., over 50 people had been accredited and voted at the unit. “The electorate is much; there is a need to divide the unit into two so that it could be managed effectively by the electoral officials,” he claimed.
In addition, Mr Felix Adedoja, the presiding officer in Ikado Ward 2, Unit 13, stated that the poll was proceeding smoothly. He did, however, claim that some of the voters were impertinent and disruptive. Surajudeen Yakubu, 32, a physically challenged voter from Iyometa Ward 2, Unit 008, begged the election commission to allow the ballots to count.
Yakubu also exhorted PWDs to always utilise their rights in any election, stating that “being a PWD should not limit them from exercising their rights.” He claimed that, despite the fact that many people with disabilities exercise their franchise, they do not receive adequate government benefits.
“We want to urge government to remember us and extend to us the dividend of democracy,” he told reporters. Similarly, Mrs Indiat Adewale, a 62-year-old physically challenged woman who voted in Iyometa Ward 2, Unit 008, stated that she came out to vote because she cares about the state and the country in general.
Adewale praised the conduct of INEC officials and security personnel, stating that the atmosphere was peaceful. “I came out because I want my children to succeed in the future. “Anybody that wants success for his or her children should participate in any developmental programme,” she told me.
