There was widespread late arrival of officials of the Ogun State Electoral Commission, OGSIEC and electoral materials across the State during the Saturday’s local government election in Ogun State.

At majority of polling units observed by HorizonTimes in Abeokuta North, the State electoral officers and materials were not available earlier that 11am for an election that was billed to start by 8am.

In some wards and polling units, there were no traces of materials and electoral officers as at 2pm when the voting was expected to close.

HorizonTimes specifically monitored wards 6, 12, 15, and 16 in Abeokuta North.

When our correspondent visited ward 16, unit 15, Mango junction in Oke-Ata, electorates were seen hanging around waiting for materials and officials as at 11.52am.

Two police officers and an official of the NSCDC were also seen amongst the waiting voters.

Also at unit 28 of the same ward in Ika Oloba, there were no traces of officials and materials as at 11.58am. It was the same thing at unit 17 in Oluwo Odunjo, where a bored police woman was also seen amongst the waiting voters.

As at 12pm, electorates were stranded at units 1 and 2 of the same ward 16 in Oke-Ata Housing Estate as electoral officers were yet to arrive.

Many electorates who had thronged the voting centers were left stranded while other left the units in anger after several hours of waiting without any official on sight.

At Ward 6 unit 2, there was no OGSIEC official as at 2pm, while in unit 1 of the same ward, not only did the materials came late, there was no stamp for accreditation.

When HorizonTimes visited ward 12 unit 9 at Olosun, along the old Ilaro road, electoral officials were seen setting up the stage as at 12:10pm, without any security operative on sight.

Reports from Iperu Remo and many units in Ogun West were not different. As at 11.40am, no OGSIEC official was notices at ward 5 unit 11 inside Wesley School in Iperu.

However, there are reports of manipulation and intimidations in some polling units allegedly by supporters of APC.

In a video recorded at a polling unit in Ago-Oba, a known supporter official of a transport union loyal to APC were heard threatening not to allow any other party vote in the election.

He threatened to set on fire any vote cast for the PDP.

“This time, it is the time of APC, either you like it or not, this is our time.

“If anybody vote for the PDP, we will burn in, only APC votes would be counted.

 

Following the logistics issues and late arrival of electoral materials that marred Ogun State local government elections, the National Rescue Movement has described the conduct of the elections as a scam.

A statement issued by the Chairman of the party, Fayoyin Ezekiel in Abeokuta and made available to newsmen, berated Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission, OGSIEC for the poor arrangements.

He noted that the electoral umpire has failed woefully in organising the election.

He disclosed that OGSIEC planned to compromise and only carried out pay master's instructions.

Developing…