BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
Notwithstanding the apprehension ahead of the governorship election in Ekiti State on July 14, reports largely indicate that the exercise was peaceful. In fact, the police praised the electorate for peaceful conduct, while the Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC is lauded for good preparation and execution of the polls. An interim report by some observers shows that the electoral umpire fared well.
However, there were reports of attempted ballot box snatching, disruption of polls and attempts by party agents to compromise voters with money. This happened on both sides of the the leading parties-People’s Democratic Party, PDP and All Progressives Congress, APC. In some of the affected polling centres the exercise was cancelled.
Now collation of results are ongoing and the electorate who turned out in large numbers are waiting patiently for the results. There were aged voters as there were physically challenged ones who braved the odds to perform their civic duties.
Prior to the election there were outbreak of violence, so this coupled with the heavy presence of security personnel created fear that people may likely be scared away from the polling centres. Some teething problems, like the challenge with card readers, which delayed the voting of Kolapo Olusola , candidate of the PDP and wife of Kayode Fayemi, candidate of APC, were resolved.
