Accreditation of delegates for voting for the governorship primary election of the opposition People Democratic Party(PDP) in Ekiti has commenced amid heavy presence of security personnel.

Men of the Nigeria Police, Department of State Security Service, and the Nigeria Army and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were sighted at the entrance and around the Pastoral Centre located on Ado-Ikerr road, venue of the exercise.

While the road leading to Pastoral Centre was cordoned off, some of the personnel heavily armed were stationed about few kilometres away from the venue of the primary thoroughly frisked the delegates and journalists to their shoes.

The accreditation, which commenced at about 12:45pm with delegates from Ido/ Osi local government witnessed pocket of crisis as loyalists of Engr. Segun Oni, a governorship aspirant protested against alleged manipulation of the process.

The accreditation, which is being done by the five-man electoral committee headed by its Chairman and Governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel, is witnessed by officials of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC.

Addressing the delegates, Emmanuel called for calm, promising to ensure a level playing ground for all the aspirants.

He said that the five -member electoral committee in collaboration with security agencies would not allow accreditation and voting process to be disrupted or manipulated by anybody.

Emmanuel stated that all arrangements had been concluded including watertight security to ensure smooth conduct of the excercise.

Some of the aspirants including Segun Oni, Otunba Bisi Kolawole, Prof. Kolapo Eleka, Mr. Adewale Aribisala, and Deji Ogunsakin were sighted entering the accreditation centre.