Gbenro Adesina
The Local Government Election in Oyo State has commenced with many residents going about with their normal businesses.
While it was gathered that the election is peaceful in some area, it is stated to be turbulent in some polling units as it has been reported that some armed thugs in Ajisafe in Ibarapa East attempted to disrupt the election.
According to the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), a group of armed thugs loyal to the Labour Party, who are not looking friendly stormed the polling units in Ajisafe and started parking election materials.
The development caused a bit of apprehension and at the point the OYSIEC staff were about to leave the units, the security personnel came and restored sanity.
Likewise, there was a pocket of crisis in Eruwa, where it was reported that thugs armed with guns, cutlasses and other dangerous weapons terrorised the electorate.
It was gathered that they were shipped in by a prominent politician on the eve of the election and throughout the night, they were indiscriminately shooting.
A voter said, “This people are not part of us in this place. A prominent politician brought them to our town. Since yesterday they came in, they have been shooting indiscriminately. They are actually from Ibadan”.
In ward 2, Oke Agbede, Ogbomosho Area of the state, some armed thugs snatched ballot box and escaped.
However, as at the time of filing this report, voting has not started in many polling units across the state.
It was also gathered that voting started late even in the area where voting has commenced.
It was alleged that security presence is very light across the state, particularly outside Ibadan.
Local Government election: Crises erupts in Eruwa, Oyo State this morning in front of the town hall, stay safe if you’re within that location. pic.twitter.com/j5aJU5dceE
— OTUNBA (@ManLikeIcey) May 22, 2021
