This is because the number of registered female voters in the state is higher than that of the male, according to a document obtained by our correspondent from the Independent National Electoral Commission in Abuja on Monday.
The document shows that there are 1,407,222 valid registered voters in the state out of which female constitute 53 per cent.
This indicates that there are 754,828 female voters in the state while the number of male registered voters is 661,394, which represents 47 per cent of the total number of voters.
While the commission put the number of wards in the state at 332, it also states that there are 3,010 polling units, adding that there are 3,379 voting points for the election.
It was also stated in the document that Osogbo Local Government Area had the highest number of voters out of the 30 local government areas in the state.
While Osogbo Local Government Area leads with 110,000 voters, Ife East is second with 81,430 and follow by Olorunda with 71,580 voters.
Iwo Local Government Area is fourth with 66,657 voters while Ifelodun Local Government Area, comes fifth with 57,591 voters.
The three local government areas with the least number of voters are Ifedayo, which has 13,066 voters; Boluwaduro, 16,844 voters; and Orolu with 24,914 voters.
Twenty political parties are fielding candidates for the election.
Some of the parties are Accord Party, Alliance for Democracy, All Progressive Grand Alliance, All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, Unity Party of Nigeria and Social Democratic Party.
Out of these 20 political parties, it is generally believed that the fight would be between the candidates of the APC, who is also the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Raul Aregbesola, and the candidate of the PDP, Senator Iyiola Omisore.
In order to have a hitch-free election, the document indicated that the electoral body had positioned eight management members of staff for the election.
Also on ground for the election are 30 electoral officers, 30 assistant electoral officers (administrative), 30 assistant electoral officers (operations) and another 30 assistant electoral officers(RAC).
There are 19 local and 10 foreign observers accredited to monitor the election.
Among the local observing groups are Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, led by Clement Nwakwo; Women Arise for Change Initiate which has Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin as leader; and Justice Development Peace Commission led by Rev. Fr. Everest Bassey.
Also listed as monitors are Rights Monitoring Group (Olufemi Aduwo); Reclaim Naija(Ngozi Iwere); and Election Monitor(Abiodun Ajijola).
Some of the foreign monitors are European Union Delegation, High Commission of Canada, British High Commission, Embassy of France, Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany, and the United States Mission to Nigeria.
“INEC has dedicated hotlines at its Situation Room in Abuja through which complaints can be lodged or incidents reported from any Polling Unit throughout Osun State for swift intervention as may be appropriate,” the document added.
The telephone lines are 07098115257, 08101774434, 07098117563, 07032492303, 07098110916, 0709811638.
The commission, however, added that complaints to these lines should be through SMS
Source: THEPUNCH
