By David Akinadewo-Adekahunsi

There was a massive turnout of voters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, and Ede on Saturday morning as residents trooped out in large numbers to participate in the state governorship election.

From the early hours of the morning, voters, including elderly men and women, were seen at various polling units waiting patiently to exercise their franchise and determine who governs the state for the next four years.

A correspondent of Nigerian Monitor who monitored the exercise in parts of Osogbo and Ede observed a strong voter presence, with many of the elderly voters expressing determination to cast their ballots despite the early morning conditions.

At Ede, the home town of the incumbent governor and one of the major political centres in the state, Governor Ademola Adeleke cast his vote at about 8:40 a.m. at his polling unit, Polling Unit 009, Abogunde Compound, Registration Area 02, Abogunde/Sagba, Ede North Local Government Area.

The polling unit information displayed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) identified the location as Abogunde Compound, with polling unit code 009.

With Governor Adeleke voting early in Ede, attention has now shifted to the conduct of the poll across the 30 local government areas of the state and whether the strong voter turnout recorded in the morning will be sustained throughout the voting period.

Security agencies and election officials have also been expected to ensure that voters are protected and that the exercise proceeds peacefully, transparently and in accordance with the rules governing the election.

For many of the voters who spoke with Nigerian Monitor, the priority remained the same: to cast their votes peacefully and return home, regardless of political affiliation.

The large presence of elderly voters at the polling units was particularly noticeable, underscoring the determination of residents to participate in choosing the next governor of Osun State.