Voting has ended at several polling units across Osun State, with INEC officials immediately moving to the sorting and counting of ballots after a day marked by strong turnout, technical challenges and reports of irregularities.

INEC officials sorting votes at PU 008 Ward 04, Anuoluwa junction in Ede South. Photo: Channels Television’s Taiwo Adeshina

Voting has ended at several polling units across Osun State, with election officials beginning the sorting and counting of ballots in the ongoing governorship election.

The close of voting comes after a day that witnessed strong voter turnout, technical challenges and allegations of irregularities at some polling units, even as security authorities described the overall situation as calm.

Governor Ademola Adeleke, who is seeking re-election on the Accord Party platform, cast his ballot in Ede after delays caused by difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and a faulty ink pad. The APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, also voted in Ikire and appealed to voters to remain peaceful.

There were also reports of BVAS authentication challenges at some polling units, including a case involving Prof. Olayinka Ajala in Ife East, who was unable to vote after the system failed to recognise his face and thumbprint.

The election also witnessed allegations of vote buying and other irregularities, while ADC candidate Najeem Salaam’s polling unit in Ejigbo was briefly disrupted after suspected thugs reportedly invaded the area shortly after he voted.

Despite the incidents, the Commissioner of Police in charge of election security, Samuel Erale, said the situation remained calm and that no arrests had been made at the time of his assessment.

With voting now ending at several polling units, attention is shifting to the sorting, counting and announcement of results at the polling-unit level before the subsequent collation process.