Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr Yinka Oyebode; Chairman, Ekiti West Local Government Council, Pastor Ropo Famubode; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi and the Olojudo of ido-Ile Ekiti, Oba Aderemi Obaleye, during the Governor’s Town hall meeting and project inspection in Ido-Ile Ekiti.
Traditional ruler in Ekiti State, the Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Ajibade Alabi has cautioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) against replicating the hiccups that marred the inconclusive Anambra State governorship election as Ekiti State prepares for her guber election in 2014.
Oba Alabi who gave the warning in Ilawe Ekiti while speaking at the town hall meeting with Governor Kayode Fayemi during the Governor’s tour of Ekiti South West Local Government Area, warned that any attempt to de-enfranchise the people would not be accepted in the State.
The monarch stated that the Anambra election has, no doubt, marred the image of the electoral umpire and the forthcoming election in Ekiti is the only opportunity for the electoral body to redeem its image.
Alabi asserted that Ekiti people long for free and fair election and would not accept a repeat of the 2009 rerun election in Ekiti when Fayemi won but was denied the victory.
It could be recalled that many analysts have accused INEC of being a bias umpire in the Anambra election, saying that the total of the “valid”votes polled by the four major candidates and the total canceled votes are more than the total of the valid and invalid votes cast by the accredited electorate.
” I want to appeal to INEC that we in Ekiti are very passionate about our votes. Nobody must tamper with our votes. Once we express our views through the ballot box, it must be respected. We don’t want anambracadabra. We want free and fair election in Ekiti State. We don’t want a reoccurrence of what happened the other time, the kind of Ayoka election. We don’t want that of Anambra. There is no doubt that the election in Anambra state has rubbished the integrity of INEC and INEC can only redeem its image through the forthcoming election in Ekiti state, assuring that the will of the people will not be tampered with”, the monarch stated.
The monarch however urged Ekiti people to shun violence as the polls draw closer, saying that the relative which the State has enjoyed since Fayemi’s emergence must be maintained.
In his remarks, the Ologotun of Ogotun Ekiti, Oba Samuel Oyebade stated that Fayemi’s performance within the spate of 3 years is enough to make his reelection bid a reality.
Oba Oyebade who commended the Governor’s “pragmatic ways of carrying the 8 point agenda” to the letter stated that his community like every other community in Ekiti has benefited from the strides of the present administration.
“We appreciate your administrative and professional dexterity in our diverse state. We appreciate you for deeming it fit that governance should be in the hands of competent, patriotic and well focused men and women. Ogotun has never failed in any election for the progressives in history. We are assuring you of our total support for the second term bid. There is no vacancy at Oke Bareke”, Oba Oyebade asserted.
Responding, Governor Fayemi said his administration believes in the people and is not afraid of any attempt from any quarters to rig the coming elections; saying that Ekiti people are known for standing their ground and would not allow anyone who might want to subvert their will.
The Governor who stated that his performances would speak for him in the coming election urged his political opponents to make their campaigns issue-based rather than recourse to violence.
He assured that his administration and political party, All Progressives Congress are peace loving and would not allow Ekiti state to be thrown in violence on the ground of the guber election.
Last modified: November 25, 2013
