Ahead of the Ekiti State gubernatorial election, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu has described monetised politics as “inimical and anti-democratic.”
Yesterday, during a meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, the INEC boss gave his words to every citizens of Ekiti State that their votes will be acknowledged during the state’s governorship elections on June 18. He went further to assure them that no external inferences will be allowed during the elections in the state. He also revealed that the commission will involve top crime-fighting body, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission to help check financial irregularities and inducements during the election.
In his words: “I want to appeal to all voters in Ekiti that their votes will count. We would still return to interact with other critical stakeholders on how to have a peaceful election in Ekiti. The atmosphere now for the conduct of the 2022 election is so calm, unlike what we had in 2018” The INEC boss said.
He went further to add: “In this election, there will be two ballot boxes in Ekiti East constituency 1, because they will elect their assembly representative together with the governor. There will be 16 political parties for the governorship election, but only two for the bye-election in Ekiti East.”
“The number of registered voters in Ekiti is 989, 202. We expect the stake to go higher because people are still collecting their PVCs. Let me say that we are ready for the election. Our staff are being trained.”
“The BVAS had been introduced and with the Smart Card Readers had been fully retired. As far as technology is concerned, there will be a seamless and fantastic election in Ekiti. There was a mock election here on Monday across the state and the machine worked 100 percent.
“Where the machine is unable to get the fingerprints, we will get the facial appearance of the voter. There won’t be an incidence form, we have abolished the incidence form as well. INEC is not a political party. We don’t have a candidate and all we want is leaving who leads Ekiti in the hands of the citizens and that we shall achieve.”
Oba Gabriel Adejumo, in his remarks thanked the Independent National Electoral Commission for ensuring that the registration of voters is done in the state. He noted that this act would make the citizens to participate in the election exercise.
The 2022 Ekiti State gubernatorial election will take place on June 18, 2022, to elect the Governor of Ekiti State. Incumbent APC Governor Kayode Fayemi is term-limited and cannot seek re-election to a third term.
