By John Dike, Osogbo
The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Accord Party in the Osun State governorship election, Prince Kola Adewusi, has expressed confidence that the party will emerge victorious in Saturday’s poll, while raising concerns over the late arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials at some polling units.
Adewusi spoke shortly after casting his vote at Ward 1, Olode, in Ife East Local Government Area.
The Accord deputy governorship candidate commended the deployment of security personnel across the state, saying their presence would help ensure a peaceful electoral process.
He, however, expressed concern over what he described as uneven arrival of INEC officials at polling units, noting that while electoral officers arrived early in some areas, others experienced delays.
According to him, the late arrival of INEC officials in some polling areas could affect the smooth commencement of voting and inconvenience voters who had turned out early to exercise their franchise.
Despite the development, Adewusi said he remained optimistic about the chances of the Accord Party, stressing that the party had worked hard and secured substantial support across the state.
Asked about his expectation from the election, he said, “We are on the ground. What do you expect me to say? We are winning.”
He expressed confidence that voters would be allowed to freely exercise their franchise and that the eventual result would reflect the wishes of the electorate.
Adewusi also appealed to voters, party supporters and other stakeholders to remain peaceful and conduct themselves responsibly throughout the voting, counting and collation processes.
Meanwhile, Professor Wale Oladipo, who also spoke after casting his vote at Ward 1, Olode, in Ife East Local Government Area, described the security situation as commendable and expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election.
Oladipo, who is a supporter of the incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, said the governor had performed well in office and expressed optimism that he would emerge victorious at the end of the poll.
He said residents of Ile-Ife had benefited from the Adeleke administration, expressing confidence that the electorate would reciprocate the governor’s efforts through their votes.
According to him, “The security is good and the process is commendable. My candidate, Governor Adeleke, has done well, and I am hopeful that he will emerge victorious.
“The people of Ife have benefited from Governor Adeleke’s administration, and I believe the people of Ife will pay him back for what he has done.”
Oladipo also urged voters and other stakeholders to maintain peace throughout the electoral process.
He recalled President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appeal to the people of Osun State to remain law-abiding before, during and after the election, stressing the need for all stakeholders to uphold peace and democratic values.
The Osun governorship election is being contested by several candidates, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and Najeem Folasayo Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) among the major contenders.
Voting commenced across the state on Saturday amid heightened security following concerns over violence and intimidation in some parts of Osun ahead of the election.
