The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has assured Oyo state residents of their safety during and after the governorship and houses of assembly elections.
Mr Michael Adaralewa, Oyo State NSCDC Commandant, gave the assurance during a security patrol at polling units 1 and 2, ward 9, Omi Adio St. Andrew in Ibadan, Oyo state.
He also encouraged the residents to come out en masse to vote for candidates of their choice without fear.
The Commandant said he had observed low voters turnout at most of the polling units visited by his team and other security agencies.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that senior officials of NSCDC, Department of State Services, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Police Force observed several polling units in the state.
Adaralewa said that some of the polling units visited were ward 9 polling unit 003 Hope Central Omi-Adio, Ward 9 polling unit 1 and 2 Omi Adio St. Andrew, Ward 10 polling unit 15 and 16 Baptist secondary school, Liberty.
“Oba Akinbiyi model college 2 ward 17, Oba Akinbiyi model college ward 17, ward 10 polling unit 17 and 18, Liberty Stadium road, ward 7 Queen Cinema Dugbe, ward 6 polling unit 6 Adamasingba Okeisu,” he said.
He said that security operatives, election observers and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were available to ensure voters cast their votes peacefully.
The Commandant decried the situation where INEC officials sits idle without voters coming out to exercise their franchise.
He commended those who had come out to vote, adding that their votes would surely count as assured by the Federal Government.
One of the INEC officials, who pleaded anonymity, at Oba Akinbiyi Model College 2 ward 17, said that the electoral team arrived on time but most eligible voters failed to turn up.
A resident of Agodi area in Ibadan, Mrs Mary Segun, said she was happy to have voted for the candidate of her choice without chaos in her polling unit.
She said people failed to turn up for voting because of fear of intimidation by political thugs as witnessed in the past.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Source: News Agency of Nigeria