Polling Unit 001, Ward 14 in Abeokuta South in Ogun State, was deserted when News Central correspondent Bernard Akede arrived, as election activities had already concluded.
Sources said voting was expected to end by 2 p.m., followed by counting and collation. However, election processes were expedited under unusual circumstances.
A party observer, speaking anonymously, described several irregularities. He revealed that voting, which was scheduled to start at 8 a.m., only began at around noon, causing delays. Midway through the process, officials were reportedly instructed to hasten operations following reports of nearby electoral disturbances.
In what was described as a hurried departure, polling officers were allegedly pressured to leave the area quickly.
The observer stated that officials initially left without counting or announcing the results, prompting protests from party agents. Eventually, the results were announced, but the figures were written in pencil instead of ink.
The observer expressed concern about the use of pencil, noting its potential for erasure and manipulation.
Although the officials signed the results with ink, they assured concerned agents that the figures would be rewritten in ink later, citing safety as their priority at the time.
This incident adds to the concerns raised during the Ogun State local government elections, with delays, security threats, and procedural anomalies creating challenges.
