By Muhammad Mamman
The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in Saturday’s Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, Adewale Olatunji, expressed dismay over low voter turnout, calling it a discouraging trend in Nigerian by-elections. Casting his vote at 11:25 a.m. at Ward 10, Unit 27 near Bodija Police Station, Olatunji urged residents to fulfill their civic duty before polls closed.
“Voting is simpler now, yet turnout remains poor,” Olatunji said. “If you send us to represent you, you must do your part and vote.”
In contrast, Folajimi Oyekunle, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, who voted at the same unit, hailed the election as peaceful. “Everything is going smoothly at my polling unit,” Oyekunle told reporters, signaling confidence in the process.
Voter participation varied across the constituency. At Ward 11, Units 17, 18, and 42 in Abadina, University of Ibadan, turnout was notably stronger. Sunday Unabo, a voter at Unit 17, praised the early arrival of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials but raised concerns about unannounced changes to some voters’ polling units.
A robust turnout was also reported at Ward 4, Unit 12, near NTA Ibadan, indicating pockets of strong civic engagement despite the APC’s concerns.
