IN SPITE of the violence that trailed the campaigns, the Ekiti governorship election was held peacefully, yesterday, across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Apart from minor hitches observed in some polling units, the election was generally peaceful.
The three leading candidates, Governor Fayemi of the All Progressives Congress (APC),
Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP) and Mr Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hailed the conduct of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) although Fayemi decried the presence of PDP leaders in the state and the alleged attempted abduction of APC leaders.
Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party (LP) and Mr Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), hailed the conduct of the poll by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) although Fayemi decried the presence of PDP leaders in the state and the alleged attempted abduction of APC leaders.
As the results began to trickle-in from different parts of the state, late yesterday, the figures, though unofficially, showed Fayose jumping into early lead.
Reports said the PDP candidate won with a wide margin in almost all the 13 wards in Ado Ekiti, the state capital.
Fayemi reportedly led the election in his Isan ward in Oye local government area while the LP candidate, Bamidele, performed brilliantly in most of the polling units in his Iyin Ekiti country home in Irepodun-Ifelodun local government area.
In the meantime, the APC leadership, last night, issued a statement, rejecting the outcome of the election.
But the Minister of State for Defence, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, welcomed the results.
“The people of Ekiti have spoken”, Obanikoro said.
Amid tight security, turn out of voters was impressive as the electorate made the sacrifice of trekking long distances to the polling booths to exercise their franchise.
Amid tight security, turn out of voters was impressive as the electorate made the sacrifice of trekking long distances to the polling booths to exercise their franchise.
Voters accreditation
Accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8 am in most of the voting units in Ado Ekiti, Ido, Ifaki, Oye, Isan, Ikere, Afao, Aramoko, ljero, Ikole, Ikere, Emure, Ilawe, Ijero and Aramoko.
INEC officials were said to have come with the materials as early as 7am.
Accreditation of voters commenced as early as 8 am in most of the voting units in Ado Ekiti, Ido, Ifaki, Oye, Isan, Ikere, Afao, Aramoko, ljero, Ikole, Ikere, Emure, Ilawe, Ijero and Aramoko.
INEC officials were said to have come with the materials as early as 7am.
Fayemi commends INEC over innovations as voting commences
Fayemi and his wife, Bisi, voted at the Ogilolo polling unit 009 Isan-Ilafon Ward11 at about 1.01 p.m.
Speaking with newsmen after the election, the governor expressed satisfaction regarding the level of preparedness and the arrangement put in place by INEC.
He commended the electoral umpire for bringing the electoral materials as early as possible and introducing innovation to eliminate delays in the voting process and eradicate irregularities during elections.
Speaking with newsmen after the election, the governor expressed satisfaction regarding the level of preparedness and the arrangement put in place by INEC.
He commended the electoral umpire for bringing the electoral materials as early as possible and introducing innovation to eliminate delays in the voting process and eradicate irregularities during elections.
The governor said that with this development, there were indications that the Ekiti election would record fewer hitches than that of Anambra in November 2013.
He, however, condemned what he described as attempted abduction of some of his party men like the alleged invasion of the house of an APC leader, Chief Dapo Awojolu at Egbe Ekiti in Gbonyin local government area of the state by some security operatives.
Director General, Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, Hon Bimbo Daramola, said that on the eve of the election, some overzealous security operatives attempted to arrest him at his Ire-Ekiti home town in Oye local government area of the state.Fayemi equally said he was not comfortable with the presence of some prominent members of PDP in the state during the day of election, saying they had no business in Ekiti when the poll was going on.
On the heavy presence of security operatives in the state, the governor said he could not see reason the electorate should entertain any fear in as much as the security operatives did not misbehave.
He implored his people to remain calm and allow INEC officials to do their jobs.
Daramola, who is also a member of the House of Representatives, told newsmen that some armed personnel stormed the house of his father, Chief Francis Adebayo Daramola, but did not succeed in their mission to arrest him.
He said they ransacked the house and maltreated everybody they saw on sight including his 87- years-old father.
He said they ransacked the house and maltreated everybody they saw on sight including his 87- years-old father.
I’ll accept outcome in good faith – Fayose
There was a huge turn out of voters at Afao Ekiti, the hometown of Ayo Fayose, the PDP candidate, who voted at his Afao Ward, Unit 001 in Irepodun-Ifelodun local government areas. He told newsmen after casting his voting that he would accept the outcome of the election no matter where the pendulum of victory swung.
There was a huge turn out of voters at Afao Ekiti, the hometown of Ayo Fayose, the PDP candidate, who voted at his Afao Ward, Unit 001 in Irepodun-Ifelodun local government areas. He told newsmen after casting his voting that he would accept the outcome of the election no matter where the pendulum of victory swung.
Fayose said he would leave the out come of the governorship election to God. “I have campaigned enough. I did all that was necessary in this election. I know my people love me and they want to see me return as governor, but I will leave my fate to God”, the PDP candidate said.
He, however, said he was very disturbed by the alleged level of violence and inducement in some polling units, saying that was very alien to Nigeria’s democracy and hoped it would not be repented in the 2015 general elections.