Mr Gboyega Oyetola, the immediate past governor of Osun, has decried the low turnout of voters and pockets of violence that characterised the house of assembly election in some parts of the state.
Oyetola spoke with newsmen shortly after he and his wife, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola, cast their votes at Unit 10, Ward 1, Iragbiji, Boripe Local Government Area of the state.
He attributed the voter’s apathy to the incessant violent attacks, intimidation and extra judicial killings and maiming of innocent residents in the state in the last three months.
Oyetola said it had become imperative for the security agencies to immediately rise to the occasion and bring the perpetrators to book.
“Well, the exercise appears to be going on well. The turnout has not been particularly impressive as we speak, compared with what obtained three weeks ago.
“The turnout is not impressive at all. I heard of report of pockets of violence in some parts of the state,” he said
Oyetola, however, urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to buckle-down and prevent anything that could lead to over-voting in any polling unit of the state.
The former governor, who commended the electoral umpire for its diligence, said it was incumbent on the commission to resist any temptation to compromise and mar the election.
Similarly, political parties agents also decried the low turnout of voters in the election.
Some agents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said that there were pockets of voter intimidation before the commencement of the polls.
The agents said that heavy presence of military personnel in parts of the state might have created fears in some voters, thus preventing them from coming out.
Speaking at Ward 4, Units 5, Ataoja E, Salvation Army Grammar School, Mrs Comfort Sunmonu, PDP party agent, said most of their party members were complaining that they do not have cash and could not stress themselves coming out to vote.
Sunmonu said security presence and restrictions of vehicular movement also discouraged some from leaving their houses, especially those whose polling units were recently moved.
Also, Mr Aminu Ibrahim, APC party agent said the low turnout was due to heavy security presence in the state.
“The security people prevented people from driving to their polling units to vote and this is the major reason why we are experiencing low turnout of voters,” he said.
Allied Peoples Movement (APM) party agent, Oladele Adewuyi, said the turnout of voters was very poor, compared to the presidential election.
Adewuyi, who said that no one could say what caused the low turnout, expressed the belief that people were not just really interested in the House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, Dr Mutiu Agboke, INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Osun, has attributed the low turnout of voters in the state house of assembly election to lack of interest.
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