Olusegun Ariyo
Low turnout of voters, absence of People’s Democratic Party, PDP, agents and heavy security characterised Saturday’s House of Representatives by-election for the Ovia Federal Constituency seat in Edo State.
Urban Express News reports that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is conducting bye-elections in the Federal Constituency following the vacancy created by the election of Hon. Dennis Idahosa as the Deputy Governor of the State.
The Commission is already conducting a by-election for the Edo Central Senatorial District to fill the vacancy also created by the election of the incumbent governor of the State, Monday Okpebholo, who was the occupant of the seat.
In some polling units visited in Ovia North-East Local Government Area, there was a low turnout of voters.
In the polling units, agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and African Democratic Congress, ADC, were available except those of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and others.
There was also heavy presence of personnel of the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, and the Edo State Security Corps, ESSC, in the units.
The areas visited include units 7, 30, and 31 at Owina Primary School in Oluku, Ward 6, and units 2, 3, and 4 at Orosoyen Primary School in the same Ward 6.
Also at Unit 22, located at Ekiadolor Primary Healthcare Centre, and units 21 and 4 at Adolor Primary School, Ekiadolor, all in Ward 4 of the local government.
The situation was, however, different at Ekiadolor Primary School, where there was the presence of PDP agents at the two polling units.
Speaking to newsmen at Owina Primary School, Mr. Asuelimen Samuel and Mrs. Halimat Ali, ADC and APC agents, described the exercise as peaceful.
They said INEC officials arrived at the units with the sensitive materials before 7:30 a.m., and voting started before 8 a.m.
At Unit 22, Ward 4, Hon. Solomon Odemwingie, APC supervising agent, however, described the turnout as high and not low.
Odemwingie said several persons have voted and more are still on their way, adding that over 400 voters are expected to vote at the unit before the end of the exercise.
At units 21 and 4, Ward 4, APC chieftain Mr. Isaac Aganmwonyi commended INEC officials for their early arrival and materials.
While noting that the turnout of voters is low, he, however, expressed optimism that more people will still come to vote before the end of the election.
According to him, voting is ongoing well. If it were general elections, more people would have been here.
“This is a rural area. We are expecting that more people will still come to vote. Some of them have gone to the farm, markets, and engaged in other business activities.”
Hon. Omosede Igbinedion, Mr. Johnny Ikponmwosa Aikpitanyi, and Dr. Asemota Osayuiki are candidates for APC, PDP, and ADC.
