105 year-old Madam Felicia Fayomi, at her polling booth at Ward 2, Unit 6, in Ifaki-Ekiti
- Fayemi votes, urges electorate to be law abiding, peaceful
- 105-year-old voter set agenda for winner
- Oni alleges voting buying in Ado, Oye Ekiti, denies withdrawing from race
- APC candidate Oyebanji votes, confident of victory
By Banji Ayoola
There was a massive turn out on Saturday as the electorate in Ekiti State trooped out to elect their next governor to succeed the incumbent Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is vacating office after the completion of his constitutionally prescribed maximum two terms of eight years.
Though, accreditation at some voting centres started slowly, it later picked up. Reports say there was massive turn out of voters who patiently waited on the queue to cast their vote. Among the voters was a 105-year old Mama Felicia Fayomi, who was accompanied by one of her grandchildren.
Apart from her, there were also aged disabled who came out to exercise their franchise, saying, their determination is to vote for change in the state in the next four years.
105-year-old voter set agenda for winner
The 105 years old Madam Felicia Fayomi, said to be one of the oldest voter, cast her vote at Ward 2, Unit 6 in Ifaki-Ekiti.
She asked whoever emerged as the winner to ensure peace, economic prosperity, fight against poverty and reduce the cost of living.
The woman, who was brought to the unit by one of her granddaughters, danced after casting her vote.
She said she was happy to be alive to exercise her right at the election which recorded a large turnout.
“I am happy today. I wanted to vote and I have just done that,” she added.
As reported by NAN, unprecedented numbers of enthusiastic voters thronged various polling units in different towns, villages and hamlets in the state 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 both far and near the polling centres.
At the Ekiti office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, there was a heavy presence of security agents to forestall any eventuality.
Security agents arrived at many polling units as early as 7.20 a.m.
Aside from the police, other security agencies and outfits providing security, include the Civil Defence Corps, the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and men of the Federal Road Safety Corps.
At some of the border towns linking Ekiti with other states, military men were strategically stationed with officers and men, keeping vigil and conducting searches on vehicle owners and occupants.
The restriction placed on human and vehicular movement during the election was strictly obeyed by residents and travelers 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.
In many of the places visited, scores of voters were seen already in queues, waiting for the attention of the electoral officers.
Those sighted among the crowd of the enthusiastic voters include students and artisans 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 a few minutes after 8.00 a.m, while some of them have no chairs to sit on.
Sixteen 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, 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 in the morning.
However, the candidate of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Engineer Segun Oni, alleged that there was voting buying in Ado Ekiti and Oye Ekiti, as he debunked alleged his withdrawal from the governorship race.
Oni, who cast his vote at Unit 6 Ward 2 Uro, Ifaki at exactly 10:22 am along with his wife, Kemi, therefore urged security agents and other necessary should step in to stop the shenanigan.
His spokesman, Moses Jolayemi, described the alleged letter of withdrawal from the governorship election by Oni as untrue.
He said the letter was unfortunate from his political enemies, who has no meaningful and good intentions for the state.
A copy of the purported withdrawal letter, dated June 17, 2020 was signed by Engr Segun Oni himself.
Jolayemi, while reacting to the letter urged the people of the state to go out en masse and ignore the letter written by their political enemies.
He said; “Respond to it as madness. I am debunking the statement as madness. This is the last phase of their madness. I am urging the people of the state to go out enmass and vote for Segun Oni. If it is the wild of God, Oni will win the election today but if it is not, those people will die with their madness. Our people should disregard the statement as the handwork of the mad people.”
Against this backdrop, the outgoing Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, called on all eligible voters to come out to perform their civic duty and exercise their right to choose their leadership
The governor, who cast his vote at Polling Unit 009, Isan ward, Oye Local Government Area in the morning, appealed:“You are enjoined to comply with the rules and regulations governing conduct on election day.
“I urge all of us to remain vigilant and to accord the security agencies and other relevant authorities our full cooperation. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance.
“I wish to remind us that regardless of our partisan allegiances, we are all sons and daughters of this great state. Ekiti is ours to dwell in and build together. Let us vote to perpetuate our land’s heritage of honour and harmony.”
After voting, the governor commended the Independent National Electoral Commission for the early commencement of the election.
He said, “INEC should be given a pass mark. My Permanent Voter Card was still recognised and it is the PVC that I have been using since the beginning of this process.
“The process is seamless. Accreditation is now done alongside voting.”
Also a former Deputy Governor of the state, Prof Olusola Eleka, after voting, said he would regard whatever outcome the ongoing Ekiti Sate governorship race throws up as the will of people.
He said: “I have done my part, I’ve voted for my party, whatever the outcome is the wish of the people.”
Eleka, who made the remark after he voted at Unit 7, Ward 2 Okeruku, Ikere Ekiti, described the ongoing governorship election as fair, transparent and orderly.
He praised the electorate for conducting themselves in an orderly manner.
On whether the People Democratic Party (PDP) would win the election, Eleka said he has voted for his party but the outcome would be the wish of the people.
He said: “I think there was a place where they complained of rubber stamp and the people insisted that stamp must be provided before they will continue with the process.
“In my ward alone, we have seven security personnel, apart from the other security personnel that are patrolling. I think that that is a wise and good arrangement.
“The process itself is quite fair and I think it will make the process count. Usually, you will expect the people to wait behind to defend their votes. Even if you don’t tell them to wait, they will want to wait so that the votes are counted correctly.”
ADP candidate denies stepping down for Oni
Meanwhile, the Candidate of Action Democratic Party, Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle, has denied stepping down from the governorship race in Ekiti State.
Speaking with newsmen, she said she has not stepped down for the candidate of the Social Democratic party (SDP), Chief Segun Oni.
According to her, it was the propaganda of those who are afraid of her rising popularity.
“Having come this far, it would be cowardly of me to back out. I’m set to win this election. In another 30minutes, I will be joining my supporters to cast my vote. It is no retreat, no surrender for me.”
APC candidate Oyebanji votes, confident of victory
On his own, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the election, Hon Biodun Oyebanji, expressed confidence that he would win the keenly contested election.
He spoke in Ikogosi Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Government Area of Ekiti State after voting at Okelele ward 06 unit 003 in the town.
He was accompanied with his wife, Dr. Olayemi Oyebanji to the unit.
He praised INEC for improving on the electoral process through Bimodal Voter Authentication System technology innovation, saying this has made the process faster and credible.
He hailed the voters for enthusiastically trooping out en masse to cast their vote, saying there wasn’t any case of apathy with the reports he had been getting across the 177 wards
“This is an improvement and my expectation is that I will win,” Oyebanji said.
“I am happy that there was no case of apathy. The security build up has also been impressive, so the process has been good and fine.
“I am coming with a change agenda and my manifesto is clear about the changes I am bringing.”
PDP candidate Kolawole hails INEC over BVAS tech
Also, the People’s Democratic Party’s (PDP) candidate in the election, Bisi Kolawole, hailed INEC for introducing the Bimodal Voter Authentication System into the electoral process.
He said the technology has improved the credibility of the poll and given political actors and voters with more confidence in the electoral system.
The PDP candidate spoke with reporters in Efon Alaaye, Efon Local Government area after voting around 8.35am at Ward 008 unit 001.
He said: “There is great improvement with the application of BVAS. The accreditation and voting were done simultaneously. The process has been accelerated by this. There is an improvement by INEC.
“I am not saying there won’t be manipulation, but the security is doing fine, so as of now, we are having a peaceful process.
“My fears are the general ones that people can become violent as reported in some cases in the past. Though the security men are on ground to respond to such situation”.
Also, the Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Prof Adio Folayan, who voted at ward 04 unit 004 in Efon Alaaye, praised INEC for the exercise.
“You could see people exercising their voting rights unhindered. The situation is clam. There is efficiency in the application of BVAS.
“I voted within five minutes. But in ward 7, the machine is not working and we are seeking replacement and we believe INEC will respond to this.”
NYSC DG lauds adequate security of corps members
oOn his part, the Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Muhammad Fadah lauded the adequate security provided for corps members working as adhoc staff in the various polling units in the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.
Speaking with reporters at a Polling Unit at Ajilosun in Ado-Ekiti, he said that the election has been peaceful so far, adding that corps members in various Polling Units are safe.
He said: “I have been round to see my corps members, they are all safe and the election has been going calm so far.”
ADP candidate denies stepping down for Oni
Meanwhile, the Candidate of Action Democratic Party, Erelu Kemi Elebute-Halle, has denied stepping down from the governorship race.
She told reporters that she has not stepped down for the SDP candidate, Chief Segun Oni as she described her purported withdrawal as propaganda of those who are afraid of her rising popularity.
Her words: “Having come this far, it would be cowardly of me to back out. I’m set to win this election. In another 30 minutes, I will be joining my supporters to cast my vote. It is no retreat, no surrender for me.”
INEC urges eligible Ekiti voters to come out, to vote
On its own, INEC appealed to eligible voters in Ekiti, who are yet to vote to come out and vote, saying the election is going on peacefully across the state.
Mr Femi Akinbiyi, INEC Head of Voters Education and Publicity, made the appeal on Saturday at the INEC office while addressing newsmen on the situation reports so far on the election.
He said the feedback the commission received so far showed that the election was going on peacefully, adding that where there has been pockets of disturbances it had been resolved.
He said that the Bi-Modal Voters Accreditation Machine System (BIVAS) machine for authenticating the voters could be slow, because of the weather condition.
Akinbiyi, however, urged the voters to be patient, assuring them that they would be attended to once they are on queue before 2.30 p.m when voting would close.
According to him, there are standby Registration Area Centre (RAC) Technology agents on ground to attend to the machine whenever it is faulty.
He also said that arrangements were ongoing at the commission to configure some BIVAS machines and get them across to the pooling units that need them.
The Head of Voters Education and Publicity, said from all observations, the situation room was calm, adding that the workability of BIVAS machine, according to field reports, is between 80 and 90 per cent.
The Situation room is located at the INEC office where each local government area is represented by a staff of the Commission to receive calls from its representatives on the field.
Akinbiyi said he expected that at the end of the day, the electoral body would record a peaceful and successful election, adding, “because everything that started peacefully like this, will continue to maintain its tempo.”
“I expect that when we are at the collation centre also, the tempo should be maintained, as well as when declaring the results.
“I am urging those that are still at home and afraid to come out and vote as the atmosphere is peaceful and conducive for voting,” he said.
In another development, a former Senator, Ayo Arise, who represented Ekiti North Senatorial District, said that the new INEC technology, known as BIVAS, has enhanced the electoral process.
Arise, addressing newsmen at his Oye-Ekiti country home on Saturday, said that the electoral body should be commended for coming up with the new technology.
He said: “The whole process is well put together; the election has been peaceful so far and people have been conducting themselves peacefully.
“Reports reaching me indicated that there is a large turn out of voters; from what I have seen so far, security arrangement has been excellent.”
According to INEC, there are 988,923 registered voters across 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State for election.
The election will hold in 2,445 Polling Units 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 of June 13, a total of 749,065 Permanent Voter Cards had been collected by registered voters in the State.
INEC said voting shall be by continuous accreditation and voting system.
The accreditation and voting were 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 the results management procedure at the polling unit, the Presiding Officers are 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 the same thing as 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).
