During today’s House of Representatives bye-election in Akoko Northeast/ Northwest federal constituency, the Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Ife Ehindero cast his vote at Unit 2, Oyin/Oge Ward 4 in Akoko northwest local government area of Ondo State.
Speaking with newsmen after exercising his franchise, Ehindero said reports he got across the constituency indicated that INEC officials and election materials got to various polling units on time while he hailed security arrangements for the exercise.
Ehindero said, “So far, by my personal assessment, the process has been very calm and peaceful. There hasn’t been any negative report from anywhere and I am hoping that it will continue like this. We’ve been monitoring all polling units across the 23 wards and 329 polling units in this federal constituency and we’ve not heard any negative report so far.
“Usually, during by-elections, the turnout is always low, compared to the general elections, so, we expected that it won’t be as much as that of the general elections but, we are hoping that our people will still come out to vote. We still have enough time since its between 8am and 2pm.
“The reports we are hearing shows that the people are happy, and I am optimistic that it’s going to be a landslide victory.
“The security agencies have been of good conduct so far. At my polling unit, security men have been professional and they hasn’t been any report of security breaches across the wards.
“The voting materials arrived on time. the INEC officials arrived on time and I believe same thing has been happening across the polling units. Personally, I feel INEC was well prepared for this election,” Ehindero said.
Also speaking with newsmen after casting his votes at his unit in Ward 3 Okeagbe Akoko, a Chieftain of the APC, Hon. Olumuyiwa Asagunla expressed satisfaction with turnout of voters in the town and other parts of the federal constituency.
On his part, a former Minority leader of the Ondo State House of Assembly and Chieftain of the PDP in Ikare Akoko, Hon. Rasheed Elegbeleye, expressed delight with timely arrival of INEC officials at his polling unit in the town.
A Commissioner- designate in Ondo State, Hon. Oyeniyi Oseni, at his voting Unit 1 Iyometa Ward 2, Ikare Akoko, said the bye-election was largely peaceful and hitch-free in most parts of the constituency, expressing optimism that the APC Candidate will win the contest.