‘Mischief makers’ blamed as low turnout mars Osun LG polls

Segun Oladitan, the chairman of Osun Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC), on Saturday said the low turnout at some polling units at the ongoing local government election was due to misinformation.

Oladitan while speaking with journalists at the OSIEC secretariat in Osogbo said he was surprised at the reports of low turnout in some polling stations.

He blamed the low turnout on misinformation being spread by those opposing the election in the state.

The OSIEC chairman said described the oppositions as “mischief makers”, saying they had been going around to tell the people that election would not hold.

Oladitan said it was falsehood from the distracters who claimed there was a court order restricting OSIEC from conducting the election.

He expressed delight however that new information reaching him indicated that the electorate were now turning out to vote.

Oladitan said the commission did a lot of sensitisation about the election, which resulted in large turnout of voters in some areas of the state.

On the late arrival of election materials, he said logistics and human factor were responsible for the late arrival.

“But the fact that election materials arrived at their scheduled destination at by 9a.m. was a reasonable time,” he said.

Speaking with NAN, Olasiyan Sikiru, an All Progressive Congress (APC) party agent, decried the unimpressive turnout of the electorate.

Sikiru said out of 600 registered voters at the ward, only 40 came out to vote as at 10am.

“We are hopeful that people will still come out but aside the low turnout, the election is going on smoothly,” he said.