- Fayemi votes, says ‘my track record’ll give me victory’
As Nigerians await the outcome of the Ekiti 2018 governorship election, early signs have shown a large turn-out of voters, as the electorate trooped out as early as 6.00am to perform their civic duties.
On Friday night, when our correspondent went round Ado Ekiti, the state capital, beer parlours were filled with residents and indigenes, who have travelled from far and near to partake in the historic 2018 Ekiti governorship election.
As at 6.00am on Saturday, people were seen trekking long distance to get to the various polling units, while those who could not trek hired the services of motorcyclists to take them to their various stations to cast their votes.
People trekking in groups sang victory songs as they moved along towards their polling units. It could not, however, be ascertained as at the time of filing this report, who had gained upper hand between the All Progressives Congress’ Kayode Fayemi and the Peoples Democratic Party’s Kolapo Olushola-Eleka, among other contestants.
The large turnout, which was noticed at Odo Ado, Poly road, Ijigbo, Ajilosun, Adebayo, Okesha, Badiri area, Nova road, Ilotin, Oke Bola, Atinkankan, Okeyinmi ke ila, EKSU area and Iworoko, all in Ado Ekiti, could not be unconnected with the high mobilisation drives by the two dominant parties, the APC and PDP.
Some of the voters trekked from hamlets located at Eminrin, Erunfun, along the Afe Babalola University way in the state capital, to the heart of Ado Ekiti to exercise their voting rights.
Our correspondent gathered from some people at the night clubs, bars, and hotels that they were enjoying cash gifts from the various political groups. The gifts, according to them, ranged from N2,500 to N5,000 for an individual. Both the APC and PDP were said to have been involved in the cash mobilisation strategy.
Though 35 political parties were accredited for the election by the Independent National Electoral Commission, only two major political parties are currently the focus of the people of Ekiti.
Also, a total of 4, 390 combined forces of soldiers and other paramilitary forces have been deployed to complement the 30,000 policemen that had earlier been drafted to the state to monitor the election.
Also, a total of 913, 334 voters were registered by INEC, but only 667,064 had collected their PVCs, just as INEC recorded a total of 246,270 unclaimed PVCs.
The European Union Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Keti Karlsen, who spoke with our correspondent at Ayegbaju Ward 4, unit 002, hailed the peaceful conduct of voters, so far.
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 for 2019 elections. This election is a precursor to the 2019 elections and its success is very crucial to us.
“The EU has been supporting INEC with voter education, how to encourage people with disabilities among others. We have seen a 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.”
My track record’ll sweep votes for me – Fayemi
Meanwhile, former Governor Kayode Fayemi, who voted at 10:31am in his Ogilolo Ward 11, Unit 009, Isan Ekiti, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, in company with some of his aides and party supporters, said, “Nigerians decided to choose democracy over dictatorship and that is why all of us must guard this democracy jealously.”
On card readers, he said, “With the news we have been gathering around, the process has been okay for now. So, I have faith in this election and I know the people of Ekiti will judge me based on what I did when I presided over this state and what this government is doing. They can see that the difference is clear.”
