Fayose Hails Self Over Ekiti LG Poll, Says Caretaker Is An Aberration

Governor of Ekiti, Ayo Fayose 

Low turnout of voters characterised the elections into chairmanship and councillorship seats in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State on Saturday.

But the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, hailed himself over the conduct of the election.

The News Agency of Nigeria correspondent who

monitored the election in Ikole Local Government Area reports that the poll was conducted under peaceful atmosphere.

Accreditation of voters began as early as possible in some polling units visited at Oke-Ijebu, Ijesa-Isu Road, Bolorunduro, Isaba, Ootunja and Asin.

Eligible voters were seen at various polling units

waiting to be attended to by officials of the state

electoral body.

It was observed in some of these polling units such as polling Unit 014 at Ward 05, Ijesa-Isu Road that majority of the voters were women and young ladies.

Security operatives were present in all the election venues while streets and major roads in Ikole were deserted as vehicular movement was restricted.

Elections have been concluded in almost all the polling units visited at exactly 1:30pm, while few voters had yet to vote in other polling units.

Temitope Adeniyi, who claimed to be a chieftain of KOWA party in Ikole Ekiti, described the election as the most peaceful poll ever conducted in the area.

Adeniyi commended all the people that participated in the election for their commitment and belief in democratic government at the local level.

He also lauded effort of the present administration in the state for making the conduct of the election a reality in spite of paucity of funds.

On the low turnout of voters, Adeniyi attributed it to non-participation of some political parties in the election that would usher in elected representatives at the local government level.

He, however, said that a reasonable number of

electorate took part in the election, saying the boycott by some parties would not affect the outcome or credibility of the poll.

Fayose said the successful conduct of the local

government election by his administration is a promise made to the people that has been kept.

Fayose, who spoke in Afao-Ekiti on Saturday, said he was glad that he was the first governor in the South West geopolitical zone to conduct local government election in the last few years.

The governor, who described the use of caretaker committees to run local government system as an aberration, said the hallmark of a genuine democrat was allowing people to express their choice on who governs them.

He said: “It is an electoral promise by my

administration and we have fulfilled the promise.

“Today, we stand out as the state that has conducted local government election.

“We did not expect the unpopular All Progressives Congress to take part in the election.

“It is important that we do not usurp the rights of our people.

“Despite APC’s plan to use court to stop the election, the people came out to vote.

“The APC people are afraid because they did not wantto suffer huge electoral loss again.

“We won all seats in the general elections and we are winning all the 16 chairmanship and the 177 councillorship seats.

“The APC are not on ground and they have failed

woefully in the state.”

Fayose added that to assist as many people as

possible, the incoming councillors would use N20,000 out of their monthly salaries to empower two persons in their wards.

On the financial situation in the country, Fayose

accused the APC-led Federal Government of double standards as far as the issue of oil subsidy is concerned.

He said: “When President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to remove subsidy, the APC were on the street.

“They failed to see reason and played politics of

inciting the people against the government.

“Now, they want to remove the same subsidy and I challenge labour leaders at federal and state levels to defend the future of the country.”

Fayose also warned those conspiring against his

government, saying his return to power was divine and that such conspiracy would fail.

today

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