The turnout for the by-election in Ibadan North Federal Constituency was pretty disappointing. This election happened because Olajide Akinremi from the All Progressives Congress passed away on July 10.
Although the INEC officials got there early at 7:30 a.m. to get things ready, not many people came out to vote. At Bodija Ward 10 Unit 26 and Ward 5 Unit 19, officials were waiting, but very few voters showed up.
Omolara Gbamigbade, an INEC official, said, “We are 100 per cent ready at Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ward 5, Unit 26. As you can see, we are setting up and waiting for voters. Their list will be pasted soon.”
Similarly, Bolaji Abiona, a PDP agent at Ward 10 Unit 26, mentioned, “Everything is set. INEC is here, the police are here. We are waiting for people so accreditation and voting can commence.”
The first voter at Ward 10 Unit 27, Police Station, Bodija Housing Corporation, was Miss Oluwaseun Omisakin. She arrived at 9:07 a.m. and was done in five minutes.
She said, “I got to where the voters’ list was pasted and saw my name. I wasn’t even expecting it. The comportment of the INEC officials was excellent, especially how the BVAS official handled the minor glitch that occurred. It showed they were prepared.”
Only Omisakin and another voter were seen at that unit during this time. But at Sango, Oju Irin, Ward 8 Unit 031, Ajayi Lucas, a PDP party agent, wasn’t too pleased since the officials came late.
“We have been calling the collation officer to alert him that INEC officials were not on ground, only for them to arrive at 9:50 a.m. This is not acceptable, it ought not to be so,” Lucas said.
They were also not at Ward 8 Unit 1, Sango Ibadan when the report was made.
This election faced some challenges with voter participation and timing issues involving officials. A more effective strategy might be necessary to encourage greater voter turnout in future elections and ensure officials arrive promptly at all units.
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