Despite apprehension expressed earlier that Ekiti State was one of the possible places where violence might erupt in Saturday’s elections, the exercise was smooth throughout the state. As results trickled in Saturday night, the State Governor, Ayo Fayose, paraded the streets of Ado-Ekiti in celebration of his party’s victory in the House of Assembly election.
The governor, who drove in a motorcade from his hometown, Afao-Ekiti to the state capital, said his party’s victory had confirmed that the people of the state were solidly behind the PDP. “We defeated the All Progressives Congress in all the 16 local governments in the governorship election last June. We repeated the same feat by winning in all the councils during the recent presidential and National Assembly elections.
“Today the people of the state have spoken again and voted massively for our party.
From the results we have from our agents, we are winning again. Those who are hitting their heads against the wall must know that it is God who enthrones and who has put us in the saddle this period in time,” he said. A large crowd of supporters followed the governor from Okeyinmi area of Ado-Ekiti to the Government House. Initial results from some polling units indicated that the Peoples Democratic Party may once again, sweep the election.
Most of the All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the House of Assembly who are involved in moves to impeach Governor Ayo Fayose, were not in their constituencies. No fewer than 10 APC legislators, led by the embattled Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, sought reelection for another term in the Assembly. Omirin, who represents Gbonyin Constituency, was not at his Aisegba-Ekiti home to vote in the election characterised by a low turnout of voters.
Governor Fayose, who voted at his Afao-Ekiti polling unit at about 3.02 pm, blamed the poor turnout on the fact that people did not attach much importance to the election unlike the presidential poll that held two weeks ago. He expressed dissatisfaction with the reported cases of ballot box snatching in Ikole, Ilejemeje and Egbe-Ekiti.
“Democracy should be moving forward in Nigeria. We do not need violence and other electoral crimes. It is God who crowns people to be what He wants them to be,” he said. Commenting on the exercise, immediate past governor of the state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who voted at his polling unit in Ogilolo Quarter, Isan-Ekiti, said a candidate of the party in Ikere-Ekiti and an agent was also attacked. Fayemi said he reported the matters to the police, but the police said they were yet to get such reports.
Fayose’s deputy, Dr Olusola Kolapo, expressed confidence that the PDP would continue its winning streak in the state. “We won in all the 16 local governments in the last two elections and we are not expecting anything less this time around,” he opined.
A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Opeyemi Bamidele, lauded the conduct of the exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission as well as the security arrangements put in place.
“Across the state, the exercise is smooth from reports I have been getting. People in every community have made up their minds on who to vote for. I do not envisage any problem. Turnout was poor due to some factors and one of it is due to the fact that we are not holding governorship election here,” he said. Some results in Ado- Ekiti in Ward 11 Unit 002, PDP 120, APC 20, Ward 8 Unit 4, PDP 67 APC 24, Unit 16 Ward 5 PDP 78, APC 46 LP 12. Ward 11 Unit 16B, PDP 114 APC 57, Ward 11 Unit 16, PDP 159, APC 56.
Source: New Telegraph
