VOTERS have turned out in large numbers to cast their votes in the governorship election in Ekiti State.
Before 9:00 am, accreditation and voting commenced simultaneously at various polling centres across the state.
At Ekiti South Polling Unit 009, Ward 02 Okenuku, in Ikere Local Government Area, voters were already queued up for accreditation and voting before 9:00: am.
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It was the same situation at Ward 07 (Idamudu I), Polling Unit-Ogundare, in Emure Local Government Area.
However, a voter who jumped the queue to vote ahead of others was beaten up.
Meanwhile, at a different polling station in Emure Local Government Area, Ward 07 and Polling Unit 006, there was confusion as the number of ballot papers available did not tally with the number of number uploaded on the Biometric Voter Accreditation Systemb(BVAS) machine.
Security outfits including operatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) are monitoring the election to maintain law and order.
The NSCDC deployed 9,747 personnel for the elections, while the Nigerian Police Force deployed 17,000 officers.
Meanwhile, Yahaya Mohammed, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed optimism that the process will be transparent.
He stressed that improvement in the electoral process would deepen the nation’s democracy and give opportunities to the opposition during elections.
Harrison Edeh is a journalist with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, always determined to drive advocacy for good governance through holding public officials and businesses accountable.