Osun Decides: Live Updates, Results and Situation Report

Osun decides After months of electioneering campaign accompanied with accusations and counter accusations, electorate in Osun, the seat of Oduduwa, would march to the polling booths across the state to elect the next governor.

Whoever emerges winner in today’s contest will take over from the leadership of Rauf Aregbesola.
Aregbesola is expected to vacate the government house having almost completed his two terms as enshrined in the constitution.

The electoral body had earlier released names of 48 successful candidates who indicated interests in becoming the next governor of the state.
However, among the 48 contenders, five persons have been tipped for the number one stool in the state.
Among the five top contenders are: Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress, who is having the backing of the outgoing governor, Aregbesola, Ademola Adeleke of the Peoples Democratic Party, Iyiola Omisore of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Fatai Akinade Akinbade of the African Democratic Congress, ADC and Alhaji Moshood Adeoti of the Action Democratic Party(ADP).

Meanwhile, heavily armed security officials, including 18,426 policemen are already in the town to forestall any outbreak of violence during and after the election.
DAILY POST brings to you Live Updates, Results and Situation Report from the election.
For eyewitness report, contact us at newsdesk@dailypost.ng
10:47 am
Osun Decides: Why I will win in landslide – Ademola Adeleke
The standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party in the ongoing Osun election, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has boasted that he would win the contest in landslide if the process is free and fair.
Adeleke who voted at exactly 8:05am at Sagba Abogunde, ward 2, unit 9, in Ede North Local Government said the process has been orderly without hitches.
Speaking with newsmen after exercising his civic responsibility, he stressed that election in Osun should not have gone otherwise because of the deep interest of international community in the process.
“This election must remain a reference point for any election in Nigeria, the position of international community is that the process must be free, fair and credible.
“Although there are pockets of skirmish before today, we are resolute in our mission to rescue the state from looters; we can not be intimidated in any way,” he said.
Adeleke, however, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, of trying to manipulate the process electronically though compromised devices.
Speaking on the impact of his family pedigree as leverage in the contest, Adeleke said his family history of integrity and humanitarian service would work for him.
He described his late brother, Isiaka as a master in the game of politics, whom he claimed he learnt a lot from in terms of governance and leadership.

10:30 am
Osun Decides: High turnout, early distribution of materials characterise exercise
As electorate throng towns and cities of Osun State to exercise their franchise, there was a high turnout of voters across the state, as electoral officials arrived their assigned locations earlier before the official time of 8 am.
Our reporter observed long queue of voters at Ede, the hometown of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP flag bearer, Senator Ademola Adeleke.
Also, there was prompt distribution of sensitive voting materials to every polling unit, which made the simultaneous accreditation and voting very fast .
Voters also displayed uncommon resolute by defying early morning downpour to cast their votes.
Electoral officials, as well as security agents, were seen educating voters on necessary steps in the process.
One of the voters at Orisunbare, Alajue ward 4, Ede South Local Government, Mr Salisu Taofeek described the process as peaceful and democratic.
He expressed confidence in the electoral process and commended security agents for so far, conducting themselves in a professional manner, urging them to sustain the trend.
In the same way, a leader of an Observer group, representing Centre for Strategy, Ethics, and Value, Mr Romanus Ugwu has lauded INEC for the prompt distribution of sensitive electoral materials.
He also commended voters for exhibiting maturity and positive political culture; he, however, advised them to eschew the syndrome of vote selling, adding that their votes go a long way to determine their future, and that of the coming generations.
8:40 am
Osun Decides: Accreditation starts in earnest amid peaceful atmosphere
Accreditation of voters has commenced in earnest in all parts of Osun State, as electorates in the state decide who will govern them in the next four years, starting from November 26, by going all out to cast their ballots in a very calm environment.
DAILY POSTrecalls that aside a reported case of murder in the Ofatedo area of Osogbo metropolis last week, alleged to have been caused by degenerated argument among some people, the electioneering in the state has been adjudged peaceful and based on issues of general interest.
Meanwhile, the turnout of voters on Saturday morning has so far been impressive, while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were readily available at their various beats to perform their statutory role before 8:am.
Security personnel are manning strategic locations in major cities and towns across the state, as vehicular movement is strictly restricted to ensure sanity in the electoral process.
Heavy presence of security operatives has been noticed at the INEC office located along Osogbo-Gbongan road, to guard against any incidence of arson, that could truncate the electoral process.
Speaking with the head of one of the accredited observers, Dr Gabriel Nwanbu, who is the Executive Director of Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizen Awareness, he commended INEC for a significant improvement in their pattern of preparations.
He lauded the punctuality of electoral officials at the various polling centres, adding that the exercise would be a great improvement to that of Ekiti in all ramifications.
Nwanbu, therefore, urged INEC to take decisive steps in stemming the tide of trading in votes, for the purpose of maintaining sanctity of the process and make it credible.