July 16, (THEWILL) – The stage is set for the residents of Osun State, South West Nigeria, to choose who will pilot their affairs for the next four years.
As it is in every democratic setting, the people will exercise their rights to pick their next governor through the ongoing governorship election.
As expected, accreditation and voting commenced as early as 8.30am, with security beefed up in all the polling stations accross the state, with the presence of personnel of Civil Defence Corps, Army, police and other security agencies.
There are 15 candidates in the race for the state’s Government House.
The 15 candidates include Akinade Akanmu Ogunbiyi, representing the Accord Party (AP); the African Action Congress (AAC) candidate is Awojide Peter Segun; Kehinde Munirudeen Olumuyiwa A Atanda is bearing the flag of the Action Democratic Party (ADP); Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola for the All Progressives Congress (APC); the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) presented Awoyemi Oluwatayo Lukuman; Adebayo Adeolu Elisha for the All Peoples Party (APP); Adeleke Adesoji Masilo Aderemi Adedapo for the Boot Party; Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, Labour Party (LP); Rasaq Oyelami Saliu for the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP); National Rescue Movement (NRM) has Abede Adetona Samuel as its flagbearer; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has Adeleke Ademola Jackson Nurudeen as its flagbearer; the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has Ayowole Olubusuyi Adedeji; Social Democratic Party (SDP) has Omigbodun Oyegoke Akinrinola; Young Progressives Party (YPP) has Ademola Bayonle Adeseye; and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) has Adesuyi John Olufemi.
However, there are major contenders, one is the incumbent Governor, Oyetola, of the APC, who is seeking a second term in office.
The PDP, another major political party in the election, has retained the same candidate it presented in the last election, Ademola Adeleke.
The top contenders will battle for who becomes the 10th governor of Osun state since its creation in 1991.
The resident electoral commissioner for Osun, Prof Abdulganiy Raji, disclosed that out of 1,955,657 registered voters in the state, 1,335,298 voters have collected their permanent voters card and are eligible to vote at the 3,763 polling units in the 332 registration areas across the state.
Osun State also has three senatorial districts, nine federal constituencies, and 23 state constituencies.
Meanwhile, Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have stormed the State ever an apparent move to curb vote buying.
As at 8:15am on Saturday, the operatives were sighted at the Freedom Park, Old Garage, Osogbo, the State capital.
Also at the polling grounds, are operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), whose presence, official said is to check possible drug activities in and around the Voting centres.
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