By-election In Kwara Peaceful, Large Voters Turn Out

From Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
By-election into the Isin/Irepodun/Ekiti/Oke Ero Federal Constituency in Kwara State was very peaceful on Saturday.
The keen contest for the seat in the Federal House of Representatives was between two kinsmen: Said Alatishe and Tunji Olawuyi of PDP and APC respectively from Omu Aran, Irepodun Local Government.
While the election recorded impressive turnouts in Isin, Irepodun and Ekiti Local Governments, it was not the same in some parts of Ireopdun and Oke Ero.
This reporter observed a good violence-free exercise in all the council areas he visited as well as good conduct of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
The Federal Constituency seat in the House of Representatives became vacant after the demise of Mrs Funke Adedoyin who was representing the constituency before her death.
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, regarded as the current leader of APC voted at his PU 006, Ile Onikoyi Ward II, Oro at about 9.45am.
He expressed his satisfaction at the peaceful conduct of the by-election into the Kwara South House of Representatives.
The Minister in an interview with newsmen after casting his vote election said voting in polling units in the local government was generally peaceful by the reports reaching him.
He commended INEC for organising a peaceful and hitch-free by-election in the four local government of the constituency.
The Minister also commended the conduct of the security personnel in maintaining peace and order during the accreditation and voting.
Mohammed however added that it was early to start receiving situation report from the polling booths across the four local governments.
He expressed confidence that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), would emerge victorious at the end.
“I am confident that my party, APC will win the election, I can’t say otherwise. APC will be victorious,” the minister added.
At Ijomu Oro, NAN reports that accreditation and voting started promptly by 8am with voters in the five polling units in the town were on queue for accreditation and voting.
A chieftain of the APC in the town, Alhaji Raheem Adedoyin commended INEC for the prompt commencement of accreditation and voting.
Adedoyin, a journalist said the initial low turnout of voter was due to the fact that they saw the by-election as a minor one, adding that they later turned out in large numbers.
He also expressed optimism that APC would win the by-election into the House of Representatives.
At Isanlu-Isin in Isin local government, all the14 voting units were filled with voters eager to be accredited.
A chieftain of APC in the town, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo said he was satisfied with the conduct and turnout of voters.
He said the people turned out in their hundreds to cast their votes because they desired a change in governance in the state.
“The people, without being coerced, came out to vote because of their yearning to effect a change of government in Kwara,” Oyedepo said.