Ekiti Gov Election: ADC Candidate Alleges Vote Buying, Assault; APC Chieftain Denies Claims

By Joseph Sunday 

Ambassador Dare Bejide, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in the Ekiti State election, has alleged vote buying and an attack on his driver at his polling unit on Saturday.

Bejide voted at Polling Unit 004, Ward 2, Oke Adura, Ilawe-Ekiti. 

He told journalists that All Progressives Congress (APC) members openly distributed money to voters at the unit. He said several APC leaders and local government officials were present with large sums intended to sway voters.

He also stated that his driver was injured in an altercation at the polling unit while trying to shield him from being pushed. The driver has since been taken to hospital for treatment.

Bejide said he reported the incident to the police but was disappointed with what he called an inadequate response from security officers on the ground. 

He described the alleged cash distribution within the voting area as “embarrassing” and against democratic norms.

Responding to the allegations, APC chieftain, Makinde Araoye maintained that the electoral process across Ekiti was peaceful and orderly. 

He credited the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improved technology that speed up accreditation and voting compared to past elections.

Araoye expressed confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji would win a second term, saying voters had already decided based on the governor’s record.

On claims that he confronted Bejide at the polling unit, Araoye denied any wrongdoing. 

He said he was conducting routine visits to polling units in his ward to monitor the exercise. An argument broke out, he said, after Bejide tried to stop him from moving around the unit. 

Araoye insisted he had the right to observe activities in his ward and only acted in self-defence.

As of this report, neither the police nor INEC had issued an official statement on the ADC candidate’s allegations.