Stakeholders Call for Peaceful, Credible June 20 Election at Ekiti Town Hall Meeting 

By Kemi Folarin

Traditional rulers, electoral officials, security agencies, religious leaders and civil society organisations have stressed the need for peaceful conduct and active citizens’ participation ahead of the June 20 Ekiti State Governorship Election.

At the Ekiti Decides Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting held in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, the Kabiyesi Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Sir Stephen Babatunde Adegboyega Alabi said the major objective of the engagement was to ensure a credible election devoid of fear, violence and intimidation. 

He described all the thirteen governorship candidates as sons and daughters of the state and expressed confidence that the new Electoral Act would stand the test of the Ekiti poll.

Oba Alabi urged security agencies to discharge their duties professionally and in accordance with the law, while appealing to political actors and their supporters to embrace peace before, during and after the election.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, disclosed that over one million voters had been registered in the state, assuring residents that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election. 

He explained that only the delivery of sensitive materials was being awaited.

Mr. Omoseyindemi noted that recruitment of ad hoc staff, voter sensitisation, logistics arrangements and stakeholders’ engagements were ongoing to guarantee a successful exercise. 

He added that collaboration with the media through the International Press Centre, IPC, had helped in addressing misinformation and disinformation, while Persons With Disabilities, PWDs, had also been engaged to ensure inclusiveness in the electoral process.

On Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, the REC said collection would commence on June 5 and last for two weeks, stressing that only rightful owners of PVCs would be allowed to vote. 

He encouraged eligible voters to visit their registration centres within their local government areas to collect the cards, adding that election credibility remained a shared responsibility among all stakeholders.

Speaking on election security, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Falade Adegoroye Michael assured residents that the atmosphere in the state remained conducive for the election, with adequate deployment plans already in place. 

He disclosed that more than eleven thousand police personnel would be mobilised for the exercise, while additional security apparatus would arrive in the state before June 18 to forestall any breakdown of law and order.

The Police Commissioner warned political thugs and other troublemakers to stay away from violence, saying security agencies would not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the poll. 

He also announced that all security officers on election duty would carry proper identification tags, except operatives of specialised undercover units. 

He further provided the police control room number, 08062335577, for emergency situations during the election period.

Representatives of religious bodies also called on citizens to participate actively in the electoral process. 

The representative of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ekiti State, Alhaji Kewulere Bello represented by Imam Aliyu Kolawole Rasaq, said Islam promotes peace, accountability and transparency, stressing that violence had no place in the religion. 

In the same vein, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, in Ekiti State, Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye, urged Christians to see voting as a civic responsibility capable of enthroning righteous leadership.

Also speaking, the Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ekiti State, Mrs. Oluwakemi Akomolede and that of the Women Trust Fund raised concerns over vote buying, insecurity and transportation challenges facing Persons With Disabilities during elections. 

They however urged citizens not to sell their votes or succumb to voter apathy, emphasizing that collective participation remained vital to achieving a peaceful, free and credible governorship election in Ekiti State.