Fashola comfortably led the polls in most parts of Lagos where results had been announced last night, while Fayemi was ahead in 12 of the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State.

In Oyo, Ajimobi led in Ibadan and Ibarapa, while his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opponent, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala was ahead in Ogbomoso.

The duo were in a neck-to-neck race in Oyo town. Results were yet to come in from Oke-Ogun at press time last night.

However, from all indications, Ajimobi is likely to win in Oke-Ogun because of the Governor Rashidi Ladoja factor. Ladoja is backing Ajimobi whom he directed all his supporters to vote for before the election.

Ajimobi’s performance in Ibadan-Ibarapa can be attributed to the Ibadan elders’ factor as well as his being a son of the soil. The elders had before the polls expressed dissatisfaction with President Olusegun Obasanjo’s handling of the Oyo State crisis and chided him or treating Chief Lamidi Adedibu with kid gloves.

In Lagos, Fashola was followed by the Democratic

Peoples Alliance (DPA) candidate, Mr. Jimi Agbaje, who against all odds was ahead of his PDP (PDP) counterpart, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro.

At Alimoso, Ejigbo, Kosofe, Ikeja, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island, Ojo, Eti-Osa, Agege, Apapa, Epe, Somolu and Surulere local governments, where results in some wards had been declared, Fashola was in the lead.

Last night, political pundits observed that if the trend continues, Fashola looked good to succeed his boss, Governor Bola Tinubu.

Yesterday, voters turned out in large numbers to vote in the governorship and Houses of Assembly polls.

The exercise was peaceful in many parts of the state, while there were reports of violence and malpractices in other places.

At Jakande Estate, Isolo, in Ejigbo Local Government Area, the election started behind schedule due to the late arrival of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

At Ojo where there was an impressive turn-out, INEC officials had a hectic time controlling the voters. At Olugbemi Estate, Olojo Drive, Idi-Orogbo, Alaba-Rago, Okoko, Ijanikin, Igbo-Elerin and Iba township, the voters waited patiently, even when it started raining around 3p.m., to cast their votes.

In Ekiti, there was no election in Igbimo-Ekiti, while the house of a former deputy speaker in the House of Assembly, Mr. Taiye Olatunbosun, was reportedly burnt.

The incident, it was learnt, followed plans to rig the election in the area.

One person each was reportedly killed in Oye-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti, while a traditional ruler was fingered for arranging thugs to vote at Are-Ekiti.

In Ogun State Governor Daniel was said to be leading in most of the local goverments were results having been counted.