The local government election in Osun State on Saturday witnessed poor turnout of the electorate in the state.
The election in some local governments reports indicated there were no presence of ad hoc staff of the State Independent Electoral Commission in polling units visited.
In Osogbo, some of the polling units located at Ogo-Oluwa, Alekunwodo, Olaiya, Oja-Oba, among others, were devoid of electorate, OSSIEC staff and security personnel.
Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his vote as early as 8am on Saturday morning at Unit 9, Ward 2 in Ede North Local Government Area.
After casting his vote, the governor described the exercise as peaceful, encouraging the people of the state to come out and cast their votes and go back home peacefully.
The build up to the election was surrounded by controversy, with the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, asking Governor Adeleke on Thursday to put the local government election on hold.
The AGF hinged his call on the controversial Court of Appeal, Akure division, on February 10, 2025, which allegedly reinstated the earlier sacked local government chairmen and councilors.
Similarly, the Nigeria Police Force on Friday advised the state government to consider suspending the election, citing security threats.
The Police said it received credible intelligence indicating a likelihood of violence and significant security threats should the planned elections proceed.
The Osun State government insisted on going on with the election, saying that it does not want to disobey a court order which directed that the elections be held.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, in a statement said the government will not go against the rule of law.
An Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa, Presided over by Justice A.A Aderibigbe had earlier ordered the Osun State Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to conduct elections to fill the vacant positions of local government chairmen and councilors across the 30 local governments in the state.
Meanwhile, APC and the Labour Party boycotted the election citing lack of adequate security arrangement by the State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC), for the peaceful conduct of the poll.