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…PDP’s Oluyede Accuses INEC Of Systematic Disenfranchisement
ADO-EKITI – The Ekiti governorship election took place across the state on Saturday amid massive turnout of voters under a peaceful atmosphere.
Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, commended residents for turning out in large numbers to participate in the governorship election, describing the exercise as a strong demonstration of the people’s faith in democracy and good governance.
Oyebanji spoke with journalists shortly after casting his vote at Ward 006, Polling Unit 003, Oyebanji’s Compound, Okelele Area, Ikogosi-Ekiti.
The governor expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the election in his community, noting that voters arrived early at polling units and conducted themselves peacefully while waiting to exercise their franchise.
He said reports from different parts of the state indicated that many polling units recorded impressive turnout, with eligible voters showing determination to take part in the process.
According to him, the enthusiasm displayed by residents underscored their confidence in the electoral system and their resolve to determine the future of the state through the ballot.
Similarly, his deputy and runningmate in the election, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, commended the voters for their sense of patriotism with the way they trooped out en masse to exercise their civic responsibility after casting her vote at Atiba/ Aafin Ward 1, polling unit 003, at Ikere Ekiti,
Expressing her feelings about the progress being made after voting at about 8.50am, Mrs Afuye appealed to political gladiators to play by the electoral rules set by INEC to keep the tempo of peace that accompanied the election from the start to the collation time.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in the election, Dr. Wole Oluyede, expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the exercise.
Oluyede claimed that only a handful of voters had been accredited and allowed to vote several hours after the commencement of the poll.
Oluyede who spoke shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, Ward 03, Osagburu, Ikere-Ekiti, condemned what he described as a slow and frustrating accreditation process at his polling unit.
The PDP candidate, who arrived at the polling unit alongside his wife, Kemi Oluyede, voted at about 9:45 a.m.
“People have been here for about one and a half hours and only five people have voted in my polling unit. That is what they do all the time. So, I am suspecting that there is something wrong with the INEC process,” he said.
The PDP flagbearer lamented the pace of voting, describing it as an attempt to disenfranchise voters.
“If they are voting five people per hour, that is sad. Something is wrong. You cannot disenfranchise these people. It is sad for democracy in Nigeria,” he added.
Oluyede also accused security personnel deployed to the polling unit where the Deputy Governor voted of harassing members of the public.
“It is very unfortunate that all I can get here is an army of cameras, whereas down the road where the Deputy Governor votes, there is an army of policemen there harassing people.
“Go down there and see the army of policemen that are harassing people. They are using force. I have evidence of that and I will show you when it is appropriate,” he alleged.
Despite his complaints, the PDP candidate expressed confidence in his party’s chances in the election.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Managing Director of the Federal Housing Authority, Oyetunde Ojo, expressed optimism that the peaceful conduct of the poll would provide useful lessons for future electoral exercises in the country.
Ojo, who is a son- in-law to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies for their impressive performance in the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.
Speaking shortly after casting his vote at Polling Unit 04, Ward 04, Erijiyan-Ekiti, in the Ekiti West Local Government Area of the state, he applauded INEC for logistics and deployment of election materials.
“Looking at the timeframe and reports coming from across the state, people are still casting their votes. I have just voted now. At this junction, I will score INEC about 76 per cent in terms of logistics and deployment of materials,” he said.
