The July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State, won by the All Progressives Congress’ candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has continued to elicit controversies amid accusation and counter-accusation of vote buying and rigging. In this vox pop, a cross-section of the Nigerian public spoke with our correspondent, ADELEKE ADESANYA, expressing divergent views on the no less contentious poll:
‘It was a mockery of democracy’
The Ekiti governorship election makes a mockery of democracy, as the will of the people was sacrificed on the altar of selfishness and personal aggrandizement.
Regrettably, in spite of all the assurances from INEC that the processes would be free and fair, in conformity with globally accepted democratic standards, the election was anything far from this as the election was marred with irregularities.
The heavy security build-up in the state during the election put the entire state under siege and undue tension. This state of affairs made any genuine democratic activity a herculean task.
History and posterity will not forgive this generation of Nigerian Leaders if they fail to preserve democracy as a legacy which we must hand over to our children.
So going forward, the entire electoral process must be sanitised to ensure that no single political party takes advantage of its position to pervert the will of the people. The willful perversion of democratic principles in any election is an open invitation to chaos and anarchy.
It was not a portrayer of a good future for this country. If votes can be bought in such election in this country, that means democracy is dead. The fight again corruption by this government is nothing but a mirage. It is really an unfortunate situation for Ekiti people because I don’t see any good thing that will be brought to them by Fayemi
INEC has demonstrated that our democratic aspirations cannot be entrusted into its hands. What is now required, is a complete overhaul of INEC to rid it of its current partisan disposition.
-Engr. Yabagi Yusuf National Chairman, Action Democratic Party
‘Parties bought people’s conscience’
The Ekiti election showed the power tussle between the ruling parties in Nigeria. It showed the level of poverty suffered by the people and how those in government are capitalising on it by giving them money to buy their conscience. This was ably manifested in how the APC and PDP foot-soldiers went round distributing money. It is sad indeed.
– Akinola Kolawole
Businessman
‘It’s bad omen for 2019’
The election showed the high level of militarisation of our poll, which APC promised to change. Again, vote buying was another notable ugly incident that characterised the poll. With a development like this, I can tell you that 2019 election will be full of malpractices.
– Bukola Oyetunji,
Political Analyst
‘Rigging took place at collation centres’
Most of the rigging is done at collation centres. Let every polling unit send result directly to a central computerised platform that automatically collates results at state and national levels. ‘Shikena!’
-Doyin Okupe,
Ex-presidential aide
‘It’s evidence of slavery, captivity’
Ekiti fiasco is a hallmark of the imput of an illiterate APC national chairman’s first outing. A historical embarrassment. A patient who refuses to take drugs cannot be cured by a physician. Vote sellers are classical illustration of those who enjoy slavery. He who goes to bed with a live snake should expect a deadly bite. As much as the Ekiti poll was rigged, Ekiti people were complicit. Nigerians in Ekiti who sold their votes and their rights for the highest bidder fed on their own flesh. It’s sad we deduct from civilisation. If you give poverty as an excuse for selling your votes, brace up for greater poverty, as no one prospers in slavery and captivity.
– Erasmus Ikhide,
Rights activist
‘Those who voted PDP received serious lashes’
Ekiti election was not free and fair at all. I witnessed a lot of things in my town, Aramoko, where people were beaten with canes if they vote for PDP. But if they do for APC, they were given N4000. My younger brother was beaten by these people who are followers of Fayemi when they perceived he voted for PDP. It was not an election at all. It was a shameful exercise for this country and ongoing democracy.
-Damilola Olanipekun,
Aramoko-Ekiti
‘Govt’s anti-corruption crusade, a mirage’
Ekiti election was a total disgrace to Nigeria at large. It was not a portrayer of a good future for this country. If votes can be bought in such election in this country, that means democracy is dead. The fight again corruption by this government is nothing but a mirage. It is really an unfortunate situation for Ekiti people because I don’t see any good thing that will be brought to them by Fayemi.
-Ogunkunle Augustine
Public Analyst
‘It served Fayose right’
It was a well-deserved ‘judgement’ for Fayose. I know that the election was not fair but I wanted Fayose to pay for his many sins. He is not fit for that position and what he has as result served him well. All he knows to do is ‘making mouth’.
Oluwaseun Aina,
Businessman
Ilogbo-Ekiti
‘PDP is long dead’
It’s quite unfortunate that the followers of a dead PDP did not realise that their party is long dead …even come 2019 general election, they can’t come near third position. Let us wait and see.
-Abdulkareem Abdul,
Ibadan, Oyo State
‘Peter the Rock’ got crushed
Peter the Rock has met a quarry manager who was the minister of solid mineral resources and guess what happened? The Rock was crushed.
-Otunba Dare,
Ado-Ekiti
