Ekiti gov poll: More accusations as tension rises ahead of D-day

Anxiety, tension and fears have enveloped Ekiti State as the people prepare to elect a new governor on Saturday.

The candidates, in a bid to win the
votes of eligible voters, have resorted to mudslinging, frivolous claims
and allegations laced with suspicions and speculations. The most
culpable among the political parties involved in the politics of
blackmail, are the APC and the PDP.

The two parties are arguably the leading
contenders for the state coveted seat. The election, on one hand,
revolves around the incumbent Governor Ayodele Fayose of the PDP, who is
seeking to install his deputy, Prof. Kolapo Olusola, and his main
challenger, the immediate past governor of the state and until last
month, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

Fayemi, who is seeking a return to
office, lost the 2014 governorship election to Fayose against
bookmakers’ predictions. Up till today, there are arguments by members
of the APC that Fayemi lost the election in questionable circumstances.

Other political parties that are
participating in the election and their candidates are Mega Party of
Nigeria, Adebisi Omoyeni; Peoples Party of Nigeria, Amb. Dare Bejide;
Labour Party, Dr Sikiru Lawal; Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party, Rev.
Tunde Afe; and Accord, Abiodun Aluko.

There are also for the Social Democratic
Party, Akinloye Ayegbusi; Advanced Congress of Democrats, Senator Bode
Olowoporoku; All Grassroot Alliance, Lucas Orubuloye; Action Democratic
Party, Otunba Segun Adewale, and All Grand Alliance Party, Stephen
Oribamise.

Others are African Peoples Alliance,
Malam Jimoh Saheed; Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance, Tope Adebayo;
All Progressives Grand Alliance, Amb Ayodeji Ayodele; Better Nigeria
Peoples Party, Prince Adegboye Ajayi; Democratic Alternative, Ayodele
Adesua; Democratic Peoples Congress, Olalekan Olanrewaju; Democratic
Peoples Party, Yinka Akerele; Freedom and Justice Party, Sule Ganiyu;
and Green Party of Nigeria, Adewale Akinyele.

They also include Independent Democrats,
Tosin Ajibare; Kowa Party, Tope Amuda; Labour Party, Temitope Amuda;
Masses Movement of Nigeria, Olabode Jegede; National Democratic Liberty
Party, Babatunde Alegbeleye; Nigeria Peoples Congress, Dr Oladosu
Olaniyi; Peoples for Democratic Change, Dada Olayinka; and Progressive
Peoples Alliance, Goke Animasahun.

The rest are Action Alliance, Shola
Omolola; United Democratic Party, Dr Olusegun Adeleye; Unity Party of
Nigeria, Gboyega Jacob; Young Democratic Party, Fakorede Ayodeji; and
Young Progressive Party, Temitope Omotayo.

Fayose recently accused the APC and the
Independent National Electoral Commission of plotting to preload card
readers to be used for the election.

The governor said the plot to manipulate
the poll in favour of the APC candidate (Fayemi) was being hatched in
Akure, Ondo State, in collaboration with the APC-led Ondo State
Government.

“They are also printing fake voter cards
in Akure with support from the Ondo State Government. They are also
working to bring in about 14,000 people from Ondo State to come and vote
here. They have already issued fake 7,000 voter’s cards and they are
daily printing this.”

Debunking the claim, Fayemi accused Fayose and officials of INEC of plotting to compromise the election.

The former minister, who raised the
alarm through the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation, alleged that a
former INEC official, Ishaku Abbo, and three INEC officials were
neck-deep in the new plot.

The Deputy Director-General (South) of
KFCO, Bamidele Faparusi, said the team was led by Abbo, who, according
to him, has been living with the governor in the Government House since
January.

He alleged that a secret meeting held in the Government House with three top officials of INEC from the national headquarters.

The organisation gave the names of the officials as Egharevba John, Festus Aisien, Igidiogu Kelechi and Ishaku.

SUNDAY PUNCH spoke with some
stakeholders on the raging tension between the two political parties who
are daily engaging each other in a battle of wits.

Alluding to this, the Secretary of the
Ekiti State Council of Elders, Pa Niyi Ajibulu, said it would not be far
from the truth to describe the election as a battle between the
federal-led and the state-led forces.

“It has always been like that. It is a
straight fight between the APC and the PDP. But we are only concerned
about having the best candidate,” he added.

Ajibulu expressed worry that the tactics
that both parties had deployed in their campaign was another indicator
that they were both desperate to win the election.

“Since the campaign began, there have
been gimmicks here and there. That is a bit worrisome and we have been
appealing to them to make the campaign issue-based,” he stated.

But the state Chairman of Trade Union
Congress, Mr. Odunayo Adesoye, counselled that it would not be in the
interest of the peace of the state for the election to take the
dimension of a battle between the federal might and incumbency.

The labour leader said, “I don’t
subscribe to that. Federal might can’t come in a state where people know
where they are going. There are 34 candidates in Ekiti and people are
watching. The people should be allowed to vote according to their
conscience. The Federal Government should ensure a credible, free and
fair election so as not to tarnish its image.”

Adesoye said the people already knew where they were going, hence their views should be respected.

Responding to a question that the union
seems to be given a tacit support to the PDP-led state government,
Adesoye said, “There is no way unions will not work with state
government. We are enjoying a perfect relationship. The immediate past
government and the incumbent have done their bits. The present
administration is doing well to be precise. We are not to condemn any of
them because the state belongs to us all, irrespective of political
party.”

The state Chairman of the Road Transport
Employees Association of Nigeria, Mr. Rotimi Agbede, however, called
for caution in the conduct of the election.

Agbede added, “The wish of the people
should stand, there should be no harassment or intimidation. If the
soldiers are coming, they are free, but they should not interfere in the
election.

“They should not favour one candidate
against the other. Where there is perceived intimidation of the
opposition, people may revolt. If the process is transparent, people
will accept it.”

The Chairman of the State Council of
Traditional Rulers and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, called
on the United States to prevent vote-buying during the July 14
governorship poll.

He expressed concern over the exchange
of words between the incumbent state government and the Federal
Government, urging the US to deploy observers in the polling units to
ensure each vote counted in the election.

Oba Ademolaju spoke at a meeting of the
council with the US Consul General, Mr. John Bray, held in the palace of
the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.

“We want everybody to be carried along.
We want reputable groups as monitors at polling units, not people who
will just be moving about.”

Oba Adejugbe noted that the people would be happy if the most popular candidate wins the election.

The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi
Alagbado, warned against a replay of the 1983 experience during the
election, where many houses were burnt in the old Ondo State.

He said, “The eyes of the world will be on Ekiti on July 14. We would be here and we won’t let you down.”

The state Chairman of the APC, Chief Jide Awe, expressed concern over the tension in the state.

In an interview with our correspondent
in Ado Ekiti, Awe accused Fayose of creating an atmosphere of tension by
compelling workers to submit photocopies of their PVCs.

He said, “The heat that is generating
now is giving us concern, particularly, in the APC. A situation where
the sitting governor is compelling workers to submit their PVC,
duplicating them and keeping them is unacceptable. We have written to
the INEC commissioner. The person doing this knows what he wants to do
with them.”

Awe said there was no way the election
could be conducted without adequate security measure because of events
leading to the election where workers were being allegedly coerced by
the state government.

He added, “Judging by the dramatic
personae that will take part in the election, you can’t rule out beefing
up of security. But the security agencies are to ensure safety of
voters and election materials.

But Fayose’s Special Assistant on New
Media and Public Communications, Lere Olayinka, to the state, blamed
Fayemi, DSS and the police for causing tension in the land by allegedly
deploying a former security aides to Fayemi, claiming that they were in
the state to manipulate the election.

Olayinka added, “The former Governor’s
CSO is among the DSS operatives in Ekiti now. That is enough to show
there is a plot to manipulate the election by using federal might.

“Abiola is part of the men of DSS on the
streets wearing masks. Ekiti is not at war. Why are they going about in
masks? How do you determine if they are real or fake security men?

“We are also aware that Fayemi’s former
ADC is to lead men of Mopol 22 from Lagos to Ekiti for this election.
Those two are enough indicators.”

He faulted the DSS for arresting some members of staff of Ola Oluwa Grammar School in Ado Ekiti while duplicating their PVCs.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyy Raji, promised that the election would be free and fair.

In an interview with our correspondent,
Raji, who spoke through the Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Alh.
Taiwo Gbadegesin, distanced the commission from allegations of collusion
with political parties to rig the governorship poll.

He said, “We are not under pressure to
rig the election from any quarters and we won’t allow politicians to
sabotage our efforts. We are an impartial umpire and will expect all the
parties to conform with the electoral guidelines.”

The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence
Corps has however assured the people that security agencies will be
neutral in the election.

Speaking with our correspondent, the
NSCDC spokesperson in Ekiti, Tolu Afolabi, said, “Our role is defined by
the Electoral Act and whatever INEC sanctions. If INEC says we should
move five metres away from the polling units, we will move away and if
INEC says we should come closer, we will do that.

“Our duty in monitoring election is
defined. Our work is minimal. It is to ensure safety of voters and to
maintain peace. We are bringing men from Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Ogun and Edo
(states) to join our men in Ekiti.”

Notwithstanding the assurances from law
enforcement agencies that the poll will be peaceful, residents of the
state are still apprehensive of possible clashes between security agents
and some politicians on election day.

Source – Punch