Osun State Governor and the Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, has expressed confidence in victory in Saturday’s governorship election, urging voters to protect their ballots throughout the electoral process.

Adeleke spoke shortly after casting his vote at Ward 2, Unit 9, Sagba Abogunde, in Ede North Local Government Area.

He arrived at the polling unit at about 8:32am and was accredited by the presiding officer three minutes later before casting his balloth

The governor urged residents across the state to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise, describing the election as an opportunity for the people to determine who would govern Osun for the next four years.

He also appealed to voters to remain peaceful and law-abiding while urging them to stay at their polling units, where permitted under the guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission, to monitor the voting process through the end of the exercise.

Adeleke, however, raised concerns over alleged attempts by some police officers to disrupt voting in parts of the state.

He claimed that he had received information about a police officer allegedly planning to disrupt the election in Ede and called on the Inspector-General of Police to immediately redeploy the officer out of the state.

“We also received information about our supporters being scared away in Modakeke and some areas in the state by some police officers to disenfranchise them,” the governor said.

He further warned voters to be vigilant against alleged fake ballot papers, which he said could be used in some polling units to manipulate the process.

Despite the concerns, Adeleke expressed optimism that the election would remain peaceful, credible and reflective of the will of the people.