Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) and security agencies have said they are ready for the conduct of the local government election slated for December 4.
Speaking yesterday at a stakeholders’ meeting ahead of the election in Ado-Ekiti, the Chairman of the commission, retired Justice Babajide Aladejana, said that the electoral body was set for the exercise.
He said sensitive and non-sensitive materials were on ground and ready for distribution to the 16 local governments and 19 local council development areas.
“The Ekiti SIEC is ready for the exercise and I want to inform you that our materials are on the ground,” he said.
The chairman said of the 18 registered political parties, only 10 were functional in the state, out of which six would participate in the election.
Aladejana gave their names as Action Alliance (AA), African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Redemption Movement (PRM) and Young Progressives Party (YPP).
On the security plans ahead of the election, Police Commissioner Mr. Tunde Mobayo warned anyone that had no business at the voting areas to stay away.
Represented by ACP Patrick Daaor, the police boss urged the citizens to accord SIEC officials as well as security personnel the desired cooperation towards a hitch-free election.
“The security stakeholders have met and have fine-tuned ways of ensuring a hitch-free exercise. By God’s grace, there will be no breach of law before, during and after the election.
“I have mobilised our officers and men for this exercise, as they have been detailed at strategic locations to ensure law-abiding people participate in the election,” he said.
The Ekiti State Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Kayode Fayemi, assured residents that his men would be mobilised for the exercise.
He called for the cooperation of well-meaning people towards a successful exercise.
The chairmen of political parties appealed to the commission to be upright and allow a free, fair, credible and violence-free election that would not be faulted.
The meeting was attended by government representatives, electoral officers from across the 16 local government areas and 19 local council development areas, chairmen of 12 parties, among others.
The last time Ekiti State conducted council elections was in 2019, which ushered in chairmen and councillors who served for two years.
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