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Tag: Ekiti State

  • BREAKING NEWS: APC wins Ekiti governorship election

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has retained the governorship seat of Ekiti State, winning in 15 out of the 16 Local Government Areas with 187,057 votes.

    The party’s supporters leaped in jubilation in the early hours of Sunday when the results of Saturday’s governorship election showed Biodun Oyebanji defeated 15 other candidates.

    Segun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) scored 82,211 votes while the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bisi Kolawole, scored 67,457 votes.

    Kolawole won in his Efon Local Government Area where he scored 6,303 to beat APC’s 4,012 and SDP’s 339 votes.

    Residents of the State Capital, Ado – Ekiti, trooped to the streets to celebrate the victory in the dead of the night.

    At the Government House in the Oke Ayoba area of the town, other APC governors, led by the state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, monitored the exercise.

    In Ikogosi-Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area, where Oyebanji hails from, residents also began celebrating the victory of their kinsman at the poll.

    ALSO READ: Ekiti Elections: Keyamo speaks on APC vote buying allegation

    Ekiti election: INEC uploads election results in viewing portal

    Ekiti 2022: Senator Olujimi loses polling unit to APC

    Also in Ikere-Ekiti, where Oyebanji’s running mate, Mrs Monitade Afuye, hails from, residents also began celebration as the results were announced by the respective local government Returning Officers.

    In different parts of the state also, some members of the ruling party celebrated the victory, describing it as well-deserved.

    Our correspondents observed that prior to the announcement of the results at the collation centre, all the results from the 16 local government areas had been uploaded on the Result Viewing Portal of the Independent National Electoral Commission, known as IReV.

    However, there were isolated cases of violence in some polling units.

    For example, in Ekiti South-West Local Government Area, the APC scored 9,679 votes ahead of SDP’s 4,577 and PDP’s 4,474 votes.

    The Returning Officer for the LGA, Prof Gbolagade Jonathan, reported that there was violence in Units 5 and 7, where he said some hoodlums from nowhere carted away the ballot boxes, after firing gunshots.

    Also, in Ikere LGA, the APC also won with 12,086 votes against the PDP and SDP, which scored 3,789 and 1943 respectively. The Returning Officer, Prof Emmanuel Ajava, announced that votes in Unit 2 of the LGA were cancelled due to violence.

    Although the governorship election held across the 16 Local Government Areas and was relatively peaceful, incidents of vote-buying characterised the poll.

    Candidates and agents of some political parties also alleged inducement of voters to deprive them of the opportunity of making their free choices.

    It was gathered that some party agents were arrested by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged vote-buying at a polling station at Ola Oluwa Grammar School, Ado Ekiti during the election.

    A source, who spoke on the development, said the suspects were apprehended with a bag of cash allegedly being used to induce voters.

    “One of the suspects, who claimed to be a party agent, was arrested and has been taken into custody,” the source said.

    Reactions: 

    Allegations of vote-buying

    The Social Democratic Party’s governorship candidate, Chief Segun Oni, who voted at Ward 2, Unit 6 in Ifaki-Ekiti his home town, complained of vote-buying in Ado Ekiti and Oye Ekiti.

    Oni, who described vote-buying as a violation of the Electoral Act, said, “I have been told that selling and buying of votes are going on in Ado and Oye. This is not allowed by the law. I want security agents to move in and stop those doing that.”

    Also, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Dr Wole Oluyede, who voted at Igele Arokun Ward 3, Unit 6, Ikere Ekiti, said there was brazen vote-buying in the community allegedly perpetrated by agents of the All Progressives Congress.

    Oluyede said, “The election today (Saturday) shows that we are not ready for democracy. The unfortunate thing is that those who took money do not want people to exercise their right to choose.

    “Whatever is the outcome of the election does not reflect good governance and the wishes of the people. It does not reflect a good election. I wish Nigeria will be a better place for all of us.”

    Similarly, the candidate of Action Democratic Party, Mrs Kemi Elebute-Halle, who voted at Unit 8, Ward 10, Odo Ayedun in Ikole LGA, lamented vote inducement, which she said did not make the election credible.

    Elebute-Halle alleged, “In my polling unit, the APC gave N10, 000, the PDP gave N5, 000 while SDP gave N3, 000 per vote as inducement. The world is watching.”

    The candidate, however, urged people to vote for a credible candidate, saying, “I want to rely on the commitment of our people to democracy. Irrespective of vote-buying, they would vote for me as their choice.”

    Also, agents of the ADC and SDP at Ward 2 Unit 8, Iworoko, Ifelofun/Irepodun LGA of the state, alleged that a particular political party engaged in vote-buying.

    The SDP agent, Bukunmi Oluwafemi, said the exercise was peaceful, observing that a party was involved in ‘see and buy,’ saying, “The voting went on well. People came out to vote. There is a party that is trying to do ‘see and buy’ but we have cautioned them.”

    The ADC candidate, Yusuf Kehinde, who corroborated him, alleged that some people asked voters to reveal the party they voted for and collect money, saying, “They (voters) are showing their ballot papers to agents of a party and we said that shouldn’t be. A particular party is buying votes.”

    But an APC agent, Muyideen Fatayo, who countered SDP and ADC agents, said, “There was no problem. Everything went well.”

    His claim was also corroborated by the PDP agent in the ward, Matthew Fapohunda, who said the election was held without any hitch.

    However, it was drama at Ward 10 Unit 9, Ilupeju along Ikere–Ado Expressway in Ikere Ekiti, Ikere LGA, as some officers of the state command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps allegedly stormed the polling unit and took away huge sum of money from some politicians.

    A voter in the unit, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the undisclosed amount of money hijacked by the security men was meant for vote-buying in the area.

    “They (NSCDC officers) stormed this unit and harassed the person holding the money. They collected the money from him and took it away. We who voted for APC and waited to collect our money could not get the money. It is disappointing. We were told that the money is over N2m,” the source said.

    Meanwhile, the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Funminiyi Afuye, who voted at Are/Araromi/Ayetoro Ward, Unit 009 Ikere Ekiti, said the vote-buying money allegedly seized by security agents was not from his party, APC, saying, “I am not aware of that. And if they seized money, it was not seized from my party.”

    The APC candidate, Oyebanji, also denied reports that he wooed voters with money in his hometown.

    Oyebanji, in a statement by his media aide, Raheem Akingbolu, titled, ‘Oyebanji didn’t give money to any voter,’ said, “Contrary to the malicious report, neither Oyebanji, nor any of his supporters gave money to anybody at any polling unit in Ikogosi. Aside from being Oyebanji’s town, the candidate enjoys overwhelming support in the community with optimism of recording a 100 per cent result.”

    Disagreement among parties

    Also, the ADC candidate, Oluyede, who alleged that there was no election in Ekiti on Saturday, said there was not anything fair or good about it.

    He said, “In my polling booth, they didn’t start elections until 10am. It was after that the polling officer said that they didn’t have a stamp to complete the process. They brought out of a bag by 10am and it was evident that they were trying to make people get into fracas with one another. We maintained decorum. We didn’t fight but I don’t think anybody trusted anything after. About the security in town, everybody that was arrested today as far as I know was my person.’’

    However, the PDP candidate, Bisi Kolawole, who voted at Ward 08, Unit 01, said, “The process has been peaceful. We just hope there won’t be manipulation.’’

    Also, the APC candidate who voted at Okelele Ward 06, Unit 003, Ikogosi Ekiti, in Ekiti West LGA, lauded the process, saying, “This is an improvement. I am happy that there was no case of apathy. The security build up has also been impressive. The process has been good and fine.”

    Both Oyebanji and Kolawole lauded the INEC and the Bimodal Voter Authentication System technology used, saying it was a great improvement.

    In the same vein, a PDP chieftain and former deputy governor, Prof. Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, who voted at Ward 2,Unit 7, Okeruku, Ikere Ekiti, hailed the process, saying, “There was no hitch and the process was without any form of harassment in any part of the town.’’

    CSOs fault election

    However, an election monitoring group, Yiaga Africa, which confirmed voter inducement and bribery through its observations, added, “Secrecy of the ballot was compromised as people could see how voters marked the ballots in Igede Ward II 13-13-06-014 in Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA.

    Yiaga Africa Executive Director, Samson Itodo, said, “Party agents for the APC, PDP and SDP clustered around the voting cubicle and saw how voters marked their ballot papers. Yiaga Africa also received reports of missing names of registered voters on the BVAS. The voters were prevented from voting despite holding INEC issued PVCs.”

    Also, the Nigerian Civil Societies Situation Room’s co-convener, James Ugochukwu, said though security officials arrived the polling units on time and were civil in their conduct, “the impact of their presence was not felt in voters’ coordination at most of the polling units. Also, the police failed to halt the apparent vote-buying witnessed by observers in virtually all the polling units.”

    Ugochukwu said, “We wish to remind the police authorities of their responsibilities to halt and apprehend those involved in voters’ inducement and maintain law and order throughout the process and beyond.’’

    NYSC hails exercise The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Brig.-Gen. Muhammad Fadah, expressed delight at the adequate security provided for corps members working as INEC adhoc staff across polling units in the 16 council areas of the state.

    Fadah, who spoke in Ado Ekiti while monitoring the safety of corps members on election duty, said the election was peaceful, adding that, “The corps members in the various polling units are safe. I went round to see my corps members. They are all safe and the election calm.’’

    Withdrawal rumours everywhere

    Some parties denied reports of their candidates’ withdrawal from the race, describing the reports as fake.

    The SDP candidate, Oni, and his ADP counterpart, Elebute-Halle, were rumoured to have withdrawn from the race to support particular candidates.

    But the Segun Oni Campaign Organisation described the reports as outright false.

    The SOCO Director of Media, Jackson Adebayo, who said Oni’s signature in the letter conveying the withdrawal was forged, added, “We want to say categorically that the release is complete falsehood and forgery which the APC is known for. The fear of the APC from the beginning has been that should Segun Oni participate in this election, their candidate will be disgracefully voted against, hence they resorted to falsehood and forgery.”

    Also, the ADP governorship candidate, Elebute-Halle, on Saturday denied stepping down from the race. Elebute-Halle, who said she was set to win the election, debunked the news that she stepped down from the contest, saying, “It is a lie concocted by those afraid of my rising profile. Having come this far, it would be cowardly of me to back out.”

    Police arrest four

    The state police command arrested about four persons over disruption of electoral process in some polling units in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.

    The state police spokesperson, Mr Sunday Abutu, who confirmed the development, said the suspects were in the command’s custody.

    ‘We’ll sue INEC’

    Meanwhile, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has urged INEC to ensure the prosecution of politicians and other party agents arrested by security agents for alleged vote-buying during the exercise.

    The group stated this in a post on its verified Twitter page, @SERAPNigeria, on Saturday. It stated that the commission risked a lawsuit if it failed to prosecute the suspects.

    Operatives of the EFCC and men of the Nigeria Police Force were reported to have arrested persons suspected to be engaging in vote-buying during the election.

    Some of the suspects were paraded at the Oke Ori Omi Divisional Headquarters of the Force. The suspects were reported to have been caught with monies allegedly used for vote-buying.

    SERAP wrote, “#EkitiDecides2022: We’re suing to compel INEC to prosecute anyone suspected to be responsible for vote-buying and electoral bribery in Ekiti State and the politicians who sent them.”

    Fayemi, monarch happy

    The state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi said that the BVAS saved time and aided a large turnout of voters.

    Fayemi made the remarks after casting his vote at Ogilolo Unit 009 Ward 11 in Isan-Ekiti, Oye council area. The governor, who voted around 9:15 am, said the process was seamless and a clear departure from the old system where accreditation of voters exceeded actual voting.

    He said, “My PVC was still recognised through BVAS and this is the same PVC I have been using since the beginning of this process.’’

    Besides, the Onisan of Isan-Ekiti, Oba Gabriel Adejuwon, who is also Chairman, Ekiti State Traditional Council, described the voter turnout as unprecedented and encouraging.

    Adejuwon said that the traditional council’s sensitisation and enlightenment prior to the election was yielding the desired results.

  • Ekiti election: INEC uploads election results in viewing portal

    Ekiti election: INEC uploads election results in viewing portal

    The uploading of election results on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) results viewing portal for the governorship election in Ekiti has commenced.

    The uploading of election results started shortly after the close of voting and sorting of votes in some polling units across the state.

    As of 6.55 p.m. on Saturday, results from no fewer than 2,084 units out of the 2,445 polling units across the 16 local government areas in the state had been uploaded on the portal: https://www.inecelectionresults.ng/

    The breakdown of the uploaded results, according to local governments, showed that so far, uploading of results from all the 199 polling units in Efon Local Government and 188 polling units in Ekiti South West Local Government had been completed.

    It also indicated that results from 84 out of the 112 polling units in Ekiti East Local Government; 177 polling units out of the 145 polling units in Ijero Council Area and 104 polling units out of the 125 polling units in Ikere Local Government had been uploaded.

    Already uploaded in the portal as at the time of filing this report were: 279 out of the expected 344 polling units in Ado-Ekiti; 90 out of 91 polling units in Ilejeme and 101 out of the 144 polling units in Ise/Orun Local Government.

    Others were: 166 out of 174 polling units in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government; 109 out of 189 polling units in Ikole; 167 out of the199 in Oye and 108 from the 166 polling units in Moba Local Council.

    Also, 154 results out of the 184 polling units in Ekiti West; 119 out of the 144 polling units in Ido/Osi; 99 out of the 115 polling units in Gbonyin and 93 out of the 94 expected results from Emure Local Government had been uploaded.

  • Sorting, counting of votes ongoing in Ekiti guber poll

    Sorting, counting of votes ongoing in Ekiti guber poll

    Counting and sorting of votes have commenced in polling units in Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, after voting ended around 2.30 p.m in most areas.

    While the process was ongoing in most Polling Units, some have concluded the counting of votes.

    In Polling Unit 031, Ward 10 Ado J Okesa, located at All Souls Anglican Grammar School, New Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti, sorting and counting was concluded around 3.30 p.m.

    In Polling Unit 012, Ward 10, Ado-Ekiti LGA with 857 registered voters, only 259 voters got accredited and voted, voting was concluded at 2:30 pm and the results were being sorted out as at the time of filing the report.

    The situation was almost the same in polling units located in Ado-Ekiti.

  • CDD scores INEC high on conduct of Ekiti Governorship election

    CDD scores INEC high on conduct of Ekiti Governorship election

    The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), on Saturday scored the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) high in the conduct of the Ekiti Governorship election.

    Prof. Shola Omotola, Member, Centre for Democracy and Development  Election Analysis Centre (CDD -EAC)  and Professor of Political Science, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, made this known in CDD’s second preliminary statement in Abuja.

    Presenting the preliminary report to newsmen, Omotola said that the conduct of the election by INEC was a significant improvement on previous elections.

    He said that the general atmosphere of the elections was peaceful and INEC officials arrived early for the conduct of the election.

    “CDD-EAC observer reports showed that by 8:30 am, 64 per cent of polling units visited had opened, and between 8:30 am and 9:30 am, another 29 per cent had opened.

    “The data indicate that 93 per cent of the Polling Units in the areas observed had started voting by 9:30 am.

    “The CDD-EAC data point to a high usage of the BVAS, with 88 per cent of polling units visited reporting effective usage.

    “Although there were hitches in very few locations, where our observers noted that some voters could not be accredited, the CDD-EAC observers rated the efficiency of the BVAS as either “very good or excellent.”

    He added that in the 31 reported cases where the BVAS malfunctioned, 71 per cent of those cases were resolved within an hour.

    “On the average therefore, CDD-EAC data indicated that it took around 2.4 minutes for voters to be processed through the BVAS.

    “In 45 per cent of the cases, voters were accredited in two minutes or less, while in 87 per cent of the cases each voter was accredited within four minutes.”

    Omotola said that the CDD-EAC observers reported a worrisome situation in which some voters were allowed to cast their ballot without being authenticated by the BVAS.

    He said that the group also observed that INEC tried to provide assistive materials like braille, magnifying glasses for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

    He said that 24.2 per cent of some polling units were not accessible to voters with disabilities, while only 24.1 per cent of polling units visited made provision for visually impaired voters by providing braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses.

    Omotola said that CDD-EAC observers documented 41 instances of vote buying and selling at Polling Units.

    He said that one of the observable patterns of vote buying was the collection of cash in brown envelopes, which was apparently meant to disguise the content of the envelopes in order to avoid arrest by the anti-corruption agencies.

    He, however, said that CDD-EAC commended the arrest of some political actors who were alleged to be involved in vote buying in the course of the election.

    Omotola said that the CDD-EAC Fake News Hub tracked and fact-checked a number of fake news and misinformation trending on Election Day.

    “A major trending item was the purported withdrawal letter of the SDP candidate, Segun Oni, and his endorsement of the PDP candidate, which circulated across social media.

    “Another claim on Twitter was that 9 million voters were expected to vote in the Ekiti 2022 gubernatorial election.

    “This claim was checked by CDD-EAC fact checkers, who returned a verdict of “false” for the claim as there are 988,923 voters registered by INEC for the Ekiti Governorship election.”

    Omotola said that another fake news was tracked relating to claims that in Ido/Osi, soldiers were preventing voters from going to their polling units which was verified to be false among others.

  • Ekiti 2022: Senator Olujimi loses polling unit to APC

    Ekiti 2022: Senator Olujimi loses polling unit to APC

    Senator Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti South Senatorial Districtistrict on Saturday lost at her ward 07, unit 07, Wesley United Primary School in Ekiti East council area.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports that the Presiding Officer announced that the All Progressive Congress(APC) polled 141 votes while the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) and Social Democratic Party(SDP) garnered 110 and 46 votes respectively.

    At unit 32, Ward 09, Olorunsogo Area, Ado-Ekiti, SDP scored 105 votes while APC 56, PDP 13, ADP 5, ADC 1, APP 3 and YPP 1 respectively.

  • Ekiti Guber Elections: APC wins first polling unit

    In Ekiti state , the ruling  All Progressives Congress (APC) has won its first Polling Unit at the ongoing guber elections.

    The victory was recorded at Polling unit 10, ward 10 in Afao/Kajola.

    APC polled 20 votes, to defeat the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s, candidate, Abiodun Oyebanji, who had two votes.

    The Social Democratic Party, SDP, and the other parties  who participated in the election did not get a single vote in the polling unit in Afao/Kajola.

    counting of votes and collation of result is presently ongoing in the state,

    TheNewsGuru.com will give update of the guber polls result as they trickle in from Ekiti state.

  • PDP alleges vote buying in ongoing Ekiti guber election

    PDP alleges vote buying in ongoing Ekiti guber election

    The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of vote buying in the ongoing Ekiti State Governorship election.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the PDP shared a photo via its official Facebook page of Abiodun Oyebanji, the APC Gubernatorial Candidate in the ongoing election allegedly giving money to an electorate.

    The party also alleged that thugs sponsored by APC leaders in Egbe Ekiti chased voters away from the polling unit.

    A video currently circulating on social media shows operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arresting some persons sharing money to electorates during the ongoing election.

    Earlier, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) dispersed a group of residents allegedly being bribed at Mobil filling station, opposite St. Michael’s School in Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti.

    A correspondent, who monitored voting across the state, observed a large crowd being dispersed by a team of NSCDC operatives, led by acting Deputy Commandant, Haruna Muhammed.

    Mr Musa Faruk, a resident of the area, said that some suspected political agents had been distributing between N10,000 and N12,000 to the voters who agreed to vote for their preferred governorship candidate.

    He explained that at polling units one and two of ward four at St. Michael Nursery and Primary School, the agents would have observed who voters had voted for before giving them the money.

    Another voter, Veronica Famigun, who was in the midst of the crowd, said that vote buying had been ongoing for hours, expressing happiness over the way in which those engaging in the act were dispersed by NSCDC operatives.

    She stressed the need for security agents to also beam their searchlight on other polling units across the state where such acts might also be perpetrated.

    Speaking on the development, Muhammed frowned at the menace of vote buying by political agents, saying that his men had no choice than to disperse those engaging in the practice.

    He said that it was important for citizens to understand that elections should be free and fair.

    The NSCDC chief advised parents to restrain their wards and keep them indoor as anybody caught in the act of vote buying would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

    However, nobody was arrested at the scene, as the suspected perpetrators immediately took to their heels. More security personnel had been drafted to the location to prevent re-occurrence.

    ADC candidate decries electoral process in Ekiti election

    Meanwhile, Dr Wole Oluyede, Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Party (ADC) has condemned the conduct of the ongoing governorship election in Ikere-Ekiti area of Ekiti, describing it as a shamble.

    Oluyede in his country home, Ikere-Ekiti on Saturday said that the election was “opaque and vulnerable to manipulation and characterised by many problems”.

    He identified logistic shortfalls, alleged disruption of electoral process by some party agents at the polling units and intimidation by security agents as part of the problems.

    The ADC candidate said that many of his people supporters were arrested while trying to exercise their civic responsibilities in various polling units in Ikere-Ekiti.

    Oluyede said he had reported the incident to the Brigade Commander, adding that nothing has been done so far to arrest the situation.

    “This is an indication that those arrested will be disenfranchised.

    “Lots of my people have been arrested for just no reason and I am totally disappointed in the security agents as they have all compromised,” he said.

    Describing the situation as so unfortunate, the candidate said he had withdrawn his people from the polling units to avoid further arrest.

  • Ekiti election: Suspected vote buyers dispersed as voters decry non-inclusion of stamp pads in election materials

    Ekiti election: Suspected vote buyers dispersed as voters decry non-inclusion of stamp pads in election materials

    Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have dispersed a group of residents allegedly being bribed at Mobil filling station, opposite St. Michael’s School in Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti.

    A correspondent, who monitored voting across the state, observed a large crowd being dispersed by a team of NSCDC operatives, led by acting Deputy Commandant, Haruna Muhammed.

    Mr Musa Faruk, a resident of the area, said that some suspected political agents had been distributing between N10,000 and N12,000 to the voters who agreed to vote for their preferred governorship candidate.

    He explained that at polling units one and two of ward four at St. Michael Nursery and Primary School, the agents would have observed who voters had voted for before giving them the money.

    Another voter, Veronica Famigun, who was in the midst of the crowd, said that vote buying had been ongoing for hours, expressing happiness over the way in which those engaging in the act were dispersed by NSCDC operatives.

    She stressed the need for security agents to also beam their searchlight on other polling units across the state where such acts might also be perpetrated.

    Speaking on the development, Muhammed frowned at the menace of vote buying by political agents, saying that his men had no choice than to disperse those engaging in the practice.

    He said that it was important for citizens to understand that elections should be free and fair.

    The NSCDC chief advised parents to restrain their wards and keep them indoor as anybody caught in the act of vote buying would be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law.

    However, nobody was arrested at the scene, as the suspected perpetrators immediately took to their heels. Also more security personnel had been drafted to the location to prevent re-occurrence.

    Ikere-Ekiti voters decry non inclusion of stamp pads in election materials

    Meanwhile, some electorate in Ikere-Ekiti area have decried the non inclusion of stamp pads in the election materials supplied to the town, alleging that the process has been compromised.

    They expressed their displeasure in separate interviews within the town.

    One of them, an 85-year-old woman, Caroline Elizabeth, vowed to wait until the stamp pad was produced, saying that she could not afford to be disenfranchised.

    “This is my civic responsibility and that am still alive to witness this, I must cast my vote.

    “This is another dimension in my 85 year in life; I have voted more than 12 times and never witnessed this situation.

    “But, no matter how long it takes INEC to produce the stamp pads, I will continue to wait,” Elizabeth said.

    Another voter, Mr Isaac Alabi, expressed his displeasure with the situation, saying that why was the INEC officials just observing that there was no stamp pads in the materials given to them three days before the election.

    Mr Ade Asimolowo, an electorate noted that peaceful election was possible, if all involved in the electoral process could abide by the guiding rules.

    Commenting, Dr Wole Oluyede, the Governorship candidate of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC), complained that the election had been compromised following non inclusion of vitals items in the election materials despatched to the town.

    As at 10:15 a.m, at Ugele Arokun Ward 3 Unit 6 in Ikere-Ekiti, where the ADC candidate was expected to vote, ballot stamp pads were missing in the voting materials dispatched to the polling unit.

    A Presiding Officer, Mr Festus More, said that all the items were completed when he checked through, but could not explain how the stamps were removed.

    “I was set for the voting as all the necessary preparation and protocols have been done. In fact, I have given out a ballot paper to the first voter, only to discover that the stamps were missing,” More said.

    He, however, assured the electorate that arrangement had been to get another stamps so that voting could commence in earnest.

    Ekiti Election: PDP candidate, Kolawole, votes, rates INEC high

    Earlier, Chief Bisi Kolawole, the Governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for making adequate arrangement for the election.

    Kolawole made the remarks on Saturday in his home town, Efon-Alaaye in Efon Local Government area rea of Ekiti, shortly after casting his vote.

    He said though, there was still room for improvement by INEC, the national electoral umpire must continue to work toward perfection.

    “So far, so good, I have just finished casting my vote, I think INEC’s preparation for this election is commendable.

    “However, I will urge INEC to continue to improve,” Kolawole said.

    Commenting on security situation, the PDP flagbearer, said that the town was peaceful at the moment.

    According to him, if there is any chaos, the security should be able to nip it in the bud, owing to their presence in large numbers.

    “I want to tell you that there are enough security men on ground to ensure peace, but if there is any chaos, I believe the security should be held responsible,” Kolawole said.

    He called on the security men to arrest anybody that planned to forment trouble.

    “We are not saying security men should rig the election for anybody, but I want them to do their jobs without favouritism or being partisan,” the governorship candidate said.

    Also commenting, Sen. Olubunmi Adetunmbi, representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, expressed satisfaction with the presence of heavy security in Ifaki-Ekiti, his hometown.

    “This is not a new phenomenon; at every election, we should expect the presence of security agents.

    “I am satisfied with what I’m seeing, you can see that Ifaki is peaceful.

    “I must say that the large presence of security men has enhanced the peace of this community.

    “Any technological innovation that would enhance the digitisation of the electoral process is welcomed,”Adetunmbi said.

    Mass turnout of voters, heavy security presence greet Ekiti election

    Generally, unprecedented numbers of enthusiastic voters on Saturday thronged various polling units in different towns, villages and hamlets in Ekiti to perform their civic rights in the ongoing governorship election.

    Also, there were combined security personnel on the ground to protect the lives and property in different parts of the state and as well their presence was noticed at both far and near the polling centres.

    At the Ekiti office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), there was heavy presence of security agents to forestall any eventuality.

    While on monitoring of the polling units, security agents arrived many polling units as early as 7.20 a.m.

    Aside the police, other security agencies and outfits providing security, include Civil Defence Corps, National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    At some of the border towns linking Ekiti with other states, military men were strategically stationed with officers and men, keeping vigil and conducting search on vehicle owners and occupants.

    The restriction placed on human and vehicular movement during election was strictly obeyed by residents and travellers alike, as most inter-township roads were empty.

    This development compelled many voters to trek long distances to their polling units, as there were no taxi or commercial motorcycle operators to convey them.

    Besides, all markets, shops and eateries were under lock and key.

    Some of the places visited included Ado-Ekiti, Ikere-Ekiti, Efon-Alaaye, in Efon Local Government area Ifaki-Ekiti, the home town of Mr Segun Oni, the Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Other areas were Ise-Ekiti, the home town of former Minister of State for Works, Dayo Adeyeye, Emure-Ekiti, Ido-Ekiti and Omuo-Ekiti, hometown of Sen. Biodun Olujimi of the PDP and Rep. Femi Bamisile of the APC.

    In many of the places visited, scores of voters were seen already on queues, waiting for the attention of the electoral officers.

    Those sighted among the crowd of the enthusiastic voters, include students and artisans of between 18 and 20 years bracket, old people and a handful of expectant mothers.

    It was observed that in most of the places, officials including ad hoc staff, deployed by INEC arrived only few minutes after 8.00 a.m, while some of them have no chairs to sit on.

    16 candidates from different political parties are slugging it out in today’s election, with only a female candidate, Mrs Kemi Elebute-Halle of ADP.

    Others include candidates of ACCORD, AAC, ADC, APC, APGA, APM, APO, LO, NNPP, NRM, PDP, PRP, SDP, YPP and ZLP.

    According to statistics at the disposal of NAN, over 17,000 policemen were deployed for the election, with NSCDC deploying 9,747, while the army and others also deployed appreciable figures.

    When contacted, Mrs Morolake Odebunmi, the Public Relations Officer of INEC, told NAN that there was nothing much to do at the INEC office this morning.

  • Ekiti State voters to elect Governor today

    Ekiti State voters to elect Governor today

    The 988,923 registered voters in Ekiti State across 16 local government areas are going to the poll to elect the governor and the deputy governor of the state today.

    The election will hold in 2,445 Polling Units (PUs) in 177 Registration Areas, in three Senatorial Districts , six Federal Constituencies and 26 State Constituencies across the states.

    A Total number of 16 candidates and parties are contesting the governorship election.

    As at of June 13, a total of 749,065 Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) had been collected by registered voters in the State.

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says voting shall be by continuous accreditation and voting system.

    The accreditation process shall comprise authentication and verification of voters, using the 3,346 Bimodal Accreditation System (BVAS) deployed by INEC.

    The accreditation and voting are expected to commence at 8:30 a.m. and close at 2:30 p.m. provided that any voter already in the queue shall be allowed to vote.

    After an election and completion of results management procedure at the polling unit, the Presiding Officers is expected to transmit a clear image of the result sheet (form EC8A) for purpose of collation.

    The result will thereafter be transmitted to INEC Result Viewing portal (IREV).

    It would also be delivered by hand the hard copy of the form EC8A and the BVAS to the Registration Area (RA) collation officer to ensure that the number of accredited voters contained in the machine is same thing in the form EC8A .

    The candidates are Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Olabisi Kolapo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Olusegun Oni of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

    Others are Reuben Famuyibo of Accord (A), Ajagunigbale Olajide of African Action Congress (AAC), Oluwole Oluyede of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Elebute-Halle Kemi of Action Democratic Party (ADP) and Benjamin Obidoyin of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).

    Also contesting are Fagbemi Adegbenro of Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Christiana Olatawura of All People’s Party (APP), Daramola Olugbenga Onile of Labour Party (LP), Fatomilola Oladosu of New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and Iyaniwura Ifedayo of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).

    Also in the race are Agboola Ben of the Peoples Redemption Party, Adebowale Oluranti Ajayi of Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Adeolu Akinyemi of Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

    INEC had assured Nigerians that people of Ekiti would determine their next governor, while security agencies also pledged to secure peaceful environment for the poll.

  • I’ll complete airport, school projects before leaving office – Fayemi

    I’ll complete airport, school projects before leaving office – Fayemi

    Gov. Kayode of Ekiti has assured that the on-going projects embarked upon by his administration will be handed over before the expiration of his tenure in October.

    Fayemi gave the assurance during an inspection of the projects in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, on Thursday.

    The governor, who inspected the terminal buildings, runway and other sections of the state airport project, expressed delight at the pace and quality of work done.

    He also expressed confidence in the ability of the company handling the projects to deliver within the stipulated time.

    According to him, the company has all the necessary materials, equipment, experience and expertise required for the timely completion of the job.

    ”It has no reason not to deliver within the expected time frame.

    “The terminal and the run way are almost completed; its major section is already asphalted; the rest is just concrete stone base and it will be asphalted.

    “I believe they will complete that within the time we have agreed,” he said.

    Fayemi further said that the company had started the terminal building and the access road connecting the main Ado Ekiti-Ijan road through the airport.

    “I think they are on course; I have every confidence that they will finish before I leave office.

    “We have tried them before; we knew they would do it; they did Ado-Iyin road and they are doing this.

    “They will soon start the Omisanjana road. So they have the experience, knowledge and the expertise to accomplish the task given to them and we are impressed,” the governor said.

    He disclosed that over 720 workers are currently working round the clock at the project site.

    The governor also visited the ultra modern council of traditional rulers’ chamber, Harding Model College, a bus terminal and the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Model School.

    He said that Harding Memory College was a mega school designed to accommodate 36 classrooms with laboratories, sick bay, an ICT centre, a library and staff quarters.

    Fayemi noted that the intervention would provide parents with the opportunity to put their children and wards in public schools equipped with modern facilities and well-trained teachers.

    According to him, the school, when completed, will accommodate large number of pupils who would have gained admission to some of the missionary schools which had been returned by government to their original owners.

    He said that the UBEC Model School at Ekiti Knowledge Zone area would provide space for students at Ago Aduloju and Ago Ayegunle.

    This, the governor said, was to address the challenge of attending school in far away Ijan-Ekiti by pupils.

    He stressed the need for continuity to bring about more massive developments in the state.

    Fayemi also said that the people of the state would have cause to smile, as his efforts at ensuring that the projects were delivered on time was going on as planned.