•••No Election Held in Ekiti LG, Says Opposition Party
Ekiti, Kwara State – The local government elections in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State were marred by widespread irregularities and violence..
Yesterday, Saturday 21st September a visit to several polling units in the area showed that results sheets were nowhere to be found, with almost all 77 units affected. This alarming development has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral process.
At Polling Unit OO7, Isare Opin, the electoral officer appeared with only two ballot papers instead of four, sparking protests from voters who demanded the remaining papers. This incident has sparked fears of manipulation and disenfranchisement.
Furthermore, electoral officers denied report sheets at every polling unit in Ekiti LG, leading to violence and disruption of the electoral process.
Elections were halted in all 16 polling units in Osi Ward I and II, Ekiti LG, Kwara State.
The Ekiti PDP Chairmanship candidate was hospitalized after being injured by youth from the ruling party in Osi, Ekiti LG. This disturbing incident has been condemned by stakeholders, who have called for calm and restraint.
Hon. Felicia Ebun Owolabi, a member of the PDP National Board of Trustees and Ekiti Party Leader, visited the hospitalized candidate, condemning the violence. “This is unacceptable and undermines our democratic process,” Owolabi said.
Similarly, Hon. Ebun Owolabi, publicly condemned the election process in Ekiti Local Government Area, stating that no elections were held in the area.
Owolabi’s statement contradicts the earlier claim by the Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission (KWSIEC) that elections were proceeding smoothly across the 16 local government areas and 193 wards.
In line with this medium finding, it’s glaringly clear that yesterday’s election in Ekiti LG was marred with a series of irregularities and a clear indication that election wasn’t held in the Ekiti Local Government Area.
Stakeholders in Ekiti LG also expressed concern over the developments, calling for investigation and accountability.
