Voters in Osun State turned out early on Saturday to exercise their franchise in the governorship election, with some prospective voters waiting for the arrival of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, officials and election materials.
As of 7:13 am, voters were seen waiting at Gulf Junction, Ogo Oluwa Ward 4, Unit 2, Osogbo, the state capital.
Osun voters are electing a governor who will occupy the Bola Ige Government House for the next four years.
A total of 15 political parties are participating in the off-cycle election, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party.
Two candidates, Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA, and Simon Adewale of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, had announced their withdrawal from the contest.
While Adeyemi-Doro declared support for the All Progressives Congress, APC, candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, Adewale endorsed Governor Adeleke.
Despite their withdrawals, APGA and APM remain on the ballot for the election.
Preparations begins for the commencement of voting at Governor Ademola Adeleke’s Polling Unit.
The highly awaited Osun State governorship election is here.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, announced that 2,339,233 residents were registered to participate in the voting process and would head to various polling units across the state to cast their ballots.
This election will feature 15 political parties, although only few candidates have actively engaged campaigns by presenting manifestoes and touring all the local government areas of the state.
At the forefront is the incumbent governor, Ademola Adeleke, who is running under the Accord Party. He is joined by Bola Oyebamiji, the candidate for the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Najeem Salaam, representing the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
In addition to these three main candidates are 12 other individuals on the ballot.
They include: Olanrewaju Farinloye of the Action Alliance; Olajide Esan of the African Action Congress; Adeagbo Opawoye from the African Democratic Party; Adesina Adeyemi-Doro of the All Progressives Grand Alliance; Adewale Adebayo of the Allied Peoples Movement; Clement Adesuyi from the Action Peoples Party; Masilo Adeleke of the Boot Party; Taofeek Adeleke from the New Nigeria Peoples Party; Saliu Oyelami of the Peoples Redemption Party; Olalekan Ogunsakin of the Young Progressives Party; Francis Ajala from the Social Democratic Party and Adefemi Adesuyi of the Zenith Labour Party.
Yemisi Adeagbo, representing the African Democratic Party, is the sole female candidate in the election.
Stay tuned to this thread for live results and updates on the governorship election.
