Results trickling in from the governorship election held Saturday in Ekiti shows the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ayo Fayose, in early lead.
Meanwhile the All Progressives Congress (APC) complained bitterly about harassments, arrests and detention of its members as well as intimidation of electorates in its stronghold by security agents dispatched to the state by the Federal Government.
The results as sent by sources showed that in most polling units, the PDP won. For example, in Iworoko Polling Unit 008, the PDP scored 109, while the APC had 63. In Usi Ekiti Unit 009, Usi Grammar school, the PDP had 79, the APC had 41 while the LP had 3.
In Ado LG, Unit 004 ward 004, the PDP scored 199 while the APC had 84 and the LP had 21 votes. In Iworoko ward 005, the PDP scored 64, the APC had 37, while the LP scored 8.
Even though the final results have not been announced, the election results were like that in most of the units and wards of the state with the PDP showing a considerable lead.
APC Cries Foul over Arrest of Party Members, Journalists
The All Progressives Congress (APC) alerted Nigerians and the international community to the massive clampdown on the party’s leaders as well as journalists during Saturday’s ongoing governorship election in Ekiti state.
In a statement issued in Lagos on Saturday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said Mr. Awodolu and 22 others were arrested at Egbe-Ekiti and taken to Ikere-Ekiti ; two leaders were arrested from Ilawe while 11 others were picked up from Ado-Ekiti.
It said those arrested at Ado Ward A units 1, 6, 8 and 11 include Charles Fashuba, Tolu Ajayi, Elesun, Olu Hero, Gboyega Fabuero, all of whom were pointed out to security agents by one Femi Ogunleye, a member of the PDP
APC said those arrested, who are the party’s leaders at their wards and local governments, were apparently being picked up to prevent them from casting their own votes, monitoring the election and subsequently being present at the collation centres.
“Ekiti has witnessed a massive turnout of voters despite the massive deployment of troops and policemen, ostensibly to provide security for the election but in reality to intimidate and harass voters to stay away from the polling units,” Mohammed said.
“Now that the strategy of the PDP-led federal government has failed despite their over-militarisation of the state, they have unleashed security agents on the leaders of the APC to prevent them from monitoring the collation of results,” APC said.The party said the same security agents have also descended on journalists who were duly accredited to cover the election, with at least five of them forcefully taken to the boundary of Ekiti and Kwara States by a detachment of police men led by Mopol Commander G.B. Seleke
The party gave the names of the journalists arrested at Ifaki-Ekiti as Jadesola Ajibola of Inspiration FM; Toyin Yusuf, Oyetunji Ojo, Akin Ogunsola, and Aremu Awolola, all of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC).
Mohammed also said security men, who said they were acting on “orders from above”, locked out voters and election officials at the Ekiti state government college, Ado Ekiti (wards 13, unit 18) are agitated.
The party listed some of the other infractions as including the following:- The names of APC members are clearly missing on the list brought by INEC officials to Wards 3 and 4 Gbonyin LGA
– Harassment of the fiancee and aged father of the campaign manager of Fayemi, Hon. Bimbola Daramola, by gun-wielding security agents.
– Plan to burn ballot boxes if APC should win ward 2 Ifaki unit 7, LGA Ido-Osi
– Fake soldiers purportedly from the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, acting under the command of PDP chieftains, are harassing and intimidating voters in Ekiti State.
It called on local and international observers to pay urgent attention to the infractions and ensure they are rectified in the interest of a free and fair election in Ekiti State.
Fayose Accuses APC of Buying Votes
Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the Ekiti State governorship election, Ayo Fayose, accused the rival All Progressives Congress and its top party members of influencing votes in some places and even buying where possible.
Fayose, who addressed journalists shortly after voting in Afao area of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, further expressed worries over the level of violence despite the presence of security men in the state.
According to him, “the issue of money sharing is unfortunate. It is disturbing when highly placed people in government are assigned to polling units to be sharing money. It is unfortunate. Whatever way it (election) goes, I will leave it to God.
“The violence is unprecedented. I called the Inspector General of Police to inform him of the violence. And I called the State Security Service Director in the state and I told him this violence is unprecedented. It is unfortunate but I hope we do not carry this into the 2015 election.
“I have to collate and get information before I can make a statement on whether the violence will affect my chances but I know I have done well, I have campaigned well and I am loved by my people.
“Well I have done my civic duty, but I am very disturbed by the level of violence. I am equally disturbed by the news of money being shared at the polling units, this is alien to our democracy, am surprised that a deputy governor, and a former governor can be driving or going from one polling booth to another carrying cash and in some cases they will give you a camera phone to take your votes in exchange of cash, it is unfortunate.
“Money in this game will destroy so many things and will destroy our future. For me, I have remained in my house and I have left everything to God whichever way it goes, I have taken that every good gifts comes from God almighty. I have put in my best in the campaigns and I will now leave the rest to God.”
My People were Hounded — Fayemi
Governor Kayode Fayemi, on his part, condemned the arrest of members of his party on the eve of the election saying it was a ploy to rig the election.
He also expressed concern over the presence of the Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan and Anambara PDP chief, Chris Uba, who all went about the state with heavy military presence.
He wondered what businesses they had in the state on election day when the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, had placed restrictions on movement and judging by the fact that they are not from the state.He said Special Forces had been detailed to destabilise the exercise in favour of the PDP.
Below is a list of result already collated:
EKITI 2014 STATE ELECTION RESULT
LG WARD POLLING UNIT PDP APC LP OTHER
IKOLE 10 10 53 10
IKOLE 8 51 29
OYE 10 17 34 70 29
EKITI WEST 8 7 57
ADO EKITI 4 3 67 23
EKITI SW 9 8 64 27 5
EKITI SW 9 15 35 33 1
ADO EKITI 1 1 190 51
OYE 1 8 60 52 10
OYE 2 12 44 26 5
EKITI SW 8 3 25 18 1
OYE 9 EJIGBO 1 85 14
ADO EKITI UNAD 33 11 2
ADO EKITI 3 5 219 61 16
OYE ITAPASI 1 17 75 59
OYE 1 12 44 26 5
IDO-OSI 1 17 107 46 13
MOBA 148 56 2
ISE ORUN 10 2 56 55
IKERE 11 3 162 39 2
IKOLE 6 3 68 29 2
EKITI WEST OKE MESI 2 15 56 38
EMURE 6 6 90 65 35
IJERO 2 6 94 46
EFON 3 4 54 29 3
ISE ORUN 9 372 287
ISE ORUN 10 538 314
IKOLE ISABA ILAMO UNIT 77 49 15
