By Jubril Bada
Voters in Ondo State turned out at various polling units for simultaneous accreditation and voting to elect the state governor, amid heavy security.
At polling units visited by The Hope in Akure, the state capital, the electorate were seen being accredited and voting simultaneously as early as 8:30 a.m.
The places visited included Lisa Ward 05, Unit 04; Ebenezer Primary School II, Ward 05, Unit 05; Ebenezer Primary School, Ward 02, Unit 09; Sacred Heart Gbogi Primary School, Ward 02, Unit 10; and Ward II, Unit 025, St Peter’s Primary School—all in Akure South Local Government Area.
The election, which commenced peacefully, also witnessed the early arrival of officers of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and voting materials.
Security agencies intensified their efforts to ensure a peaceful and credible process.
The election saw an unprecedented deployment of security personnel, including the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigeria Immigration Service, and other paramilitary forces.
The polling units were under heavy security presence, with armed checkpoints set up at strategic locations, including the INEC headquarters in Akure.
The security arrangements were aimed at preventing any form of electoral violence or malpractice.
It should be noted that INEC had worked closely with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The committee held regular meetings to assess potential threats and develop robust strategies.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, during a recent briefing, emphasised the importance of securing both voters and electoral materials to maintain public confidence in the election.