Ondo Bye Election: INEC Commissioner Applauds Process, Ballot Box Snatching Recorded

By Ayodele Oni

Few hitches were recorded during Saturday’s bye election in Akoko North East/Akoko North West federal constituency in Ondo state as voting was disrupted at some centres.

There was report of ballot snatching at Unit 5, Ward 13 in Oyinmo, Ikare-Akoko, as suspected political thugs hijacked the ballot box.

Report explained that the attack by the hoodlums caused panic with many voters taking to their heels during the attack, which occurred just before noon after not less than 63 people had cast their votes.

The hoodlums caused some commotion, while security personnel at the polling unit were trying to restore peace and order, one of them snatched the ballot box and fled the scene.

The results sheet, BVAS machine and other materials were intact.

It was gathered that 407 voters were registered at the polling unit for the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission,(INEC)  lauded the turnout of voters in the election for Akoko North-East and Akoko North-West federal constituency in the State.

The National Commissioner supervising Osun, Ogun and Ondo, Osun and Ogun States, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, gave the commendation in an interview with newsmen at Okeagbe in Akoko North-West LGA, after monitoring election.

He said “From what we have observed since morning, the election is going on peacefully, and the turnout is impressive, no violence, no vote buying anywhere.

“So, we have not recorded any terrible incident since the start of the election and by grace of God everything will end peacefully.

“Everywhere we have been to, there was no report of challenges with the BVAS machine or cases of it malfunctioning.”

Commenting on the incident of ballot box snatching at the Unit 5,Ward 13, Oyinmo, Ikare-Akoko, the national commissioner said that the situation had been restored to normalcy.

“Is normal that miscreants will remain miscreants, they attempt to disrupt the election there, but the police over powered them and we have restored everything to order and no other incident apart from that.