President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Dr. John Kayode Fayemi on winning the Ekiti State governorship election.
The President in a statement by his spokesman, Femi Adesina also commended the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate and all party supporters for the hard-fought victory after a dignified campaign.
He urged the governor-elect and APC members to be magnanimous in victory as the incoming administration prepares to unfold a new lease of life for the people of Ekiti State through purposeful and responsible governance.
He commended the people of the State for their matured and peaceful conduct as they made their choice using the power of the ballot.
President Buhari also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for adequate preparations and displaying impartiality throughout the process.
He applauded the security agencies for creating the right atmosphere for the relatively peaceful conduct of the polls and urges them to sustain the peace and local and international observers and monitors for their vigilance and contributions towards the relatively hitch-free exercise.
The President urged the losers to be gallant in conceding defeat and use constitutional means to settle whatever grievances they may have rather than resort to self-help.
He Buhari appealed to all stakeholders in Ekiti State to work towards a successful transition to a new administration in the higher interest of not only the State but the entire nation and its fledgling democratic experience.
“In all this, the people of Ekiti State have spoken loud and clear, and democracy has won again,” the President said.
Everyone with a permanent voter card (PVC) would be allowed to vote even if the card reader malfunctions or fails verify the PVC, according to Independent National Electoral Commissioner (INEC) National Commissioner Prof Anthonia Simbine.
She said such an incident would be recorded in the register and the person would then be allowed to vote although there is no incidence form being used.
Prof Simbine addressed newsmen in Unit 007, Ward 2, Okekuru, Ikere-Ekiti, where the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate Prof Kolapo Olusola Eleka voted despite his PVC not being verified by the card reader.
The INEC chief said there was no cause for alarm, as every registered voter would exercise their franchise as Eleka did.
“Where there are issues with the smart card reader, our ICT support will step in. The card has a chip which works with the smart card reader.
“If per chance, the chip has a problem, it may not be able to read. I’m not saying that is what happened (in the case of Prof Eleka).
“We’re not using the incident form. The incident will be reported on the manual register. It will be written down that it (the PVC) was not captured. But such a person is going to vote,” she said.
Simbine said those still on queue after 2pm will be allowed to vote before counting begins.
Voting has ended in some units, with counting soon to begin.
The All Progressive Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has commended the electorate in Ekiti for their impressive turnout and conduct in Saturday’s governorship election in the state.
Fayemi made the commendation after casting his ballot in his Unit 009, Ogilolo Ward 11, Isan-Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area, at about 10.28 a.m.
But, his wife, Bisi, who accompanied him to the polling station, could not vote as the Card Reader could not accredit her.
Although the electoral officials found her name on the voter register, the card reader did not recognise her voter card.
Assessing the electoral process, however, Fayemi said, “This is the day the Lord has made and we are glad in it. I have just voted in my Unit.
“The voting process is relatively smooth; my card was recognized. I was accredited and I went to cast my ballot.
“You can see the turn out in my community, it is huge. This is not a big community, but almost everyone is out to cast his vote.
“They ensure that they conduct themselves in a proper manner and not being disenfranchised.”
He, however, said that reports he got from his representatives revealed that though the exercise was peaceful in most places, there were also reports of skirmishes in some places, and Card Reader issues.
“I have had reports across the state from my agents, from our leaders; we have skirmishes, Card Reader issues, but also there has been relative calm in most places.
“It is too early to judge now; it is too early to give a final and full verdict on how the process on the ground out there in state is.
“I will plead with you, the media, to allow me some time to get more reports from the field before I give you a definitive statement about the process,” he added.
The Nation reports that large number of voters queued up to cast their ballots at the polling units in the ward.
The INEC voting list pasted in Unit 009 bore 345 names of eligible voters, including Fayemi and his wife
….Not possible, Omotoso, PDP Chieftain, INEC Official
Voting has commenced in the Ekiti governorship election as voters turned out in numbers to exercise their civic responsibility .
At Irona , Oke ori omi , St Michel primary schools, Unit 4 at Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti metropolis and voters were conducting themselves in peaceful and orderly manner.
At unit 07, 04 and 06 in Oye-Ekiti, voters are on queue waiting to vote.
In the areas visited, the card reader machine have been working well and there are no cases of malfunctioning of the machine.
A voter at Ifaki Ekiti, Kunle Ajibade who just exercised his franchise commended the smooth process of the election.
“Yes,i just cast my vote and i am comfortable with the process so far. Everywhere is peaceful and the police are here.
” I just hope everything will be peaceful till the end”
Our correspondent, who is monitoring the poll observed that as early as 7am, voters had moved out to their respective voting points .
Voting begin in most of the units at exactly as 8am with INEC Ad-hoc staff accrediting and giving ballot papers to voters.
As promised by the Inspector General of Police,Ibrahim Idris , 5 police officers are stationed at each polling units and voting points.
Also,men and officers of the Police, Army and other security agencies are seen at different points.
At unit 07 in Oye-Ekiti, voters are on queue waiting to vote.
As at the time of this report, voting is on going in a peaceful atmosphere.
At Ayegbaju Ward 4, unit 002, the European Union Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr Keti Karlsen hailed the peaceful manner with which the election commenced.
Karlsen said : “As at 9.17 am, the election has been peaceful . I have been to five polling units and the process has been credible enough.
“This election is going to be a litmus test to 2019 elections . This election is a precursor to the 2019 elections and its success is very crucial to us.
“The EU have been supporting INEC win voter education, how to encourage people with disabilities among others.
“We have seen large turnout of people and the enthusiasm for people to elect a governor that can represent them well.
“I believe this election will be credible if it ends like this,” he said.
Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress APC in Ekiti State, Senator Ayo Arise has alleged multiple voting by suspected youth in some Voting points in Oye Local government area.
Arise, who voted at his Ward 1 unit 5 Oye-Ekiti alleged that the youth are moving from one unit to another with different permanent voters card(PVC).
Responding to the allegation,the presiding officer in one of the unit, Sani Nafisat denied any cases of multiple voting.
She said the card reader machine would not allow any form of multiple voting.
A member of the state house of Assembly and PDP chieftain in Oleje-Ekiti, Dr. Samuel Omotosho dismissed the allegations of multiple voting.
Omotosho,who disclosed that there are some areas where the card reader machine were malfunctioning commended the peaceful conduct of the exercise.
Voting is already in process in most of the towns where the electorates are voting to decide their new governor.
As early as 6.00 am, the voters were already at the polling units awaiting election materials.
In places monitored in Ado, Ifaki, Ayegbaju and Oye, Iworoko, voting has started in those places.
Security arrangements were also effective in communities visited as the policemen were civil in handing the situation.
At Ayegbaju Ward 4, unit 002, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Ketil Karlsen , hailed the peaceful manner with which the
election commenced.
Karlsen said : “As at 9.17 am, the election has been peaceful . I have been to five polling units and the process has been credible enough.
“This election is going to be a litmus test to 2019 elections.
“This election is a precursor to the 2019 elections and its success is very crucial to us.
“The EU have been supporting INEC win voter education, how to encourage people with disabilities among others.
“We have seen large turnout of people and the enthusiasm for people to elect a governor that can represent them well.
“I believe this election will be credible if it ends like this.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in the Ekiti governorship election, Prof. Olusola Eleka, has eventually voted after the card reader to read his PVC twice.
He voted at 11.10am after he was manually accredited.
There was no assurance that another card reader will be brought by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
No use of incidence form has been filled to that effect.
His wife’s PVC could also not be verified by the card reader.
It is only the PDP candidate’s PVC that was not read by the card reader in his unit.
Everyone else has been verified so far and voting is ongoing
Meanwhile, a large turnout of voters still in a long queue in Eleka’s unit.
There was a long pause as electoral officers tried unsuccessfully to verify him.
The Nigeria Police Force on Friday said allegations by Governor Ayo Fayose that he was slapped and kicked by a Police officer were false.
The Police also said the governor was just being overdramatic.
The Police said it investigated the matter by inviting the Aide-de-camp (ADC) and the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to the Governor.
Both officers according to the Police said nothing of such happened despite the Governor’s claims that the police shot at him and fired teargas that blinded him.
This was disclosed by the Force Spokesman, Ag. DCP Jimoh Moshood on a television programme monitored by The Nation.
Moshood said: “It was overdramatized and everybody saw how it played out because how do you link up an injured arm with an injured leg and neck?
“The Executive Governor of the state was not manhandled. Nobody slapped him because we saw allegation that the Governor was slapped. What were the ADCs doing, what were the CSOs doing and other security agencies personnel that were with him doing at that point in time?
“Due to the allegation an, those two were invited to Command Headquarters to make statement because the Inspector General of Police after hearing of the accusations which is something that cannot be actualized directed that the matter be investigated and they were asked if they have deteriorated in their duty and why they allowed a governor to be slapped and pushed?
“They made statement that nothing like that happened.”
On why the crowd were dispersed, Moshood said: “The incident that occurred was the one that involved people sharing fuel and we are investigating that.
“Why must people be induced with fuel and money? It was the people that could not get the money and fuel that went in there to try disrupt the rally and we tried to disperse them.
“When they learnt that we were dispersing them with teargas, people left. Also, no individual has reported to police that anybody was killed or missing because of what happened while we were dispersing the crowd. So, to the best of our knowledge, nobody has reported in any Police station that he sustained injury.”
He also assured residents of a safe and secured environment during and after the election.
“The bottomline is that we are interested in providing secure environment for this election to hold and the people of Ekiti people are encouraged to continue to embrace peace.
“The deployment of 30,000 is no doubt to secure them. If you look at the history of election in this country, you would discover that Ekiti State is a flashpoint because some people’s utterances are inciting.”
Several voters were given money Friday by politicians to vote for particular candidates in Saturday’s election.
Those who spoke to our correspondents on condition of anonymity said they got N4, 000 each.
Our correspondents, who were at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) office where newsmen were being accredited, noticed that people were steadily streaming in and out of the Old Governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital.
Those seen going in and out of the premises were mostly youths as well as middle-aged men and women.
While some ran into the premises apparently to get there before the sharing ended, others walked briskly towards an inner building.
A woman was overheard raining curses on some people she claimed collected money twice.
She wondered why some would collect twice while others were yet to collect once.
She said: “A vehicle will kill all of those that collected twice!”
The parks of Fero Mobile F110 Phone that was distributed at the old Governor’s office, Oke Bareke, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
One of our correspondents approached her and said: “Take it easy madam. You’re a mother. You shouldn’t curse others that way.”
She said: “The cheating is too much. Some people have not collected, while some have collected twice. It’s not fair.”
When our correspondent sought to know who was sharing the money, she said: “I’m not a radio. Leave me, I am annoyed.” Then she walked away.
Several people were seen trying to gain access to the gated inner building within the premises.
Those coming out of the building told those outside that they must be sure of the wards they were registered to vote.
Someone was overheard saying that having a Permanent Voter Card (PVC) was required to receive the cash.
Some of the voters were seen grumbling that they could not locate their names on the list.
Those whose names were not in the list were asked to go to different locations where money for their wards was being shared.
A young man who was coming out of the premises was asked if he had collected his own money.
He was initially reluctant to respond. But when our correspondent spoke to him in Ekiti language, he opened up.
He said his name was not found in the ward list, and that he was directed to another ward.
Asked how much was being shared, he said: “Some get N2, 000; others get N4, 000” as he hurriedly left.
A woman was seen telling her friend that without her voter’s card, she would not be given the money.
A group of four women were seen talking animatedly. Three of them had succeeded in collecting their cash, but the fourth woman could not collect hers because she did not bring her PVC along.
The other women, while consoling her, said: “After all, you collected rice yesterday. At least you got something.”
More people soon gathered at the entrance, banging on the gate. They accused those sharing the money inside of planning to pocket what is left. Some shouted: “Ole, ole!”
A female security guard opened the gate soon after and everyone trooped into the compound, with pushing and shoving. The gate was shut again as more people gathered.
A middle-aged bearded man, apparently a party leader, warned those who had collected theirs and were leaving not to allow any “APC member” near the place.
Looking around as if to identify “APC members” outside the premises, he shouted: “Don’t allow any APC member near here. If any APC member comes near here, I will break his head.”
Empty packs of F1100 Power Torch Fero Mobile phones littered the scene and around the Old Governor’s Office.
It was not immediately clear if the phones were earlier shared to the voters.
Vote buying and inducement is a common theme in most elections, with major political parties culpable.
As it becomes increasingly difficult to alter election results or adopt other forms of rigging, vote buying and inducement has become the preferred option for garnering votes.
The Ekiti Governorship election is seen as a two-horse race between the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Dr Kayode Fayemi and his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) counterpart Prof Kolapo Olusola-Eleka.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner of Ekiti State Prof. Abdul Ganiy Olayinka Raji has said that the usage of the latest official vehicle tracker has assisted the commission tremendously during the process of transporting all the sensitive materials for the Saturday election to all the 16 local governments in the state.
Raji disclosed this while speaking with journalists in his office noting that the materials were collected at the Central Bank in the presence of all the political parties before dispatched to its various destination accompanied by eight senior INEC officials.
According to him, the materials were monitored directly in his office through official vehicle tracker connected to a giant television screen which indicate the movement of the materials until all got to the respective 16 local government headquarters of the state.
The commissioner disclosed that Ekiti state has 913,334 voters out of which 646, 000 collected their PVC cards while about 250,000 are yet to collect their cards.
He explained that all the process used by the commission was transparent with the involvement of all the representatives of all the parties participating in the election.
“We have 35 political parties participating in this coming, gubernatorial election, though 40 political parties initially notified us of their participation, but at the last minutes only 35 parties are participating.
He explained that the commission did not face any challenges because the fear of how the sensitive materials will get to the final destination was addressed through improved technology that assisted the commission to monitor, track and even listen to all the communications going on in all the vehicles deplored.
He explained that Ekiti is calm and all hands are on deck to conduct credible, fair and free election in the state.
