>
Residents of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, defied the restriction movement order of the Oyo State Government during the local government election on Saturday.
Vehicular movements were observed around Ring Road, Adeoyo, Oluyole, Dugbe, Challenge, Mokola, Ojo areas of Ibadan as at 7:50 am despite the 6:00am – 3:00pm restriction order put in place by the state government, NAN reports.
Commercial vehicles were seen conveying passengers to different destinations just as security operatives were absent on the roads.
Some persons told NAN that the early morning rainfall in Ibadan may have contributed to the indifference attitude by residents, which also affected the early distribution of electoral materials to polling centres.
Also, the distribution of electoral materials were delayed in Iseyin, Iseyin Local Government Area of the state, as the distribution started at about 8:25am.
Sunday Adeoye, the Electoral Officer for Iseyin Local Government, attributed the delay to the early rainfall.
At about 8:15am, there was no sign of electoral officers or voting materials at Ward 03, Units 12 and 13 at Iseyin District Grammar School, although a few voters were seen checking their names on the voter’s list.
At the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) office in Oluyole, Ibadan South West Local Government Area, electoral officers were seen arranging for materials to be delivered at polling centres at 8:25am.
One of the supervisors, who pleaded for anonymity, said that the delay was due to the rainfall and other logistics.
“We have been here since yesterday night, but the vehicles to convey electoral materials arrived late this morning due to the rain.
“Some officers have already left, anyway, but many are still around waiting for other logistics to be arranged,” he said.
As of 8:53 am at OYSIEC office, Agodi, Ibadan North Local Government Area, officials were seen distributing non-sensitive materials.
In Ibadan North West Local Government Area, Onireke, the dispatch of materials started as early as 7:00am, with officials distributing tags to security operatives.