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Former Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, praised the conduct of Saturday’s gubernatorial election, and described the polls as efficient and well-organized.
Speaking after voting at Polling Unit 9, Ward 11, Ogilolo, Isan Ekiti, Fayemi said the accreditation and voting procedures were carried out without difficulty, and commended officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their professionalism.
Reflecting on his experience at TPS, the former governor said, “This experience went smoothly. Everything went quite well. The accreditation process was fast and smooth, and I saw the same thing happen to my wife.
“I would like to commend the team working for INEC on this occasion. Not always things go this smoothly. So, at least from the technical side, it seems the process went smoothly.”
Fayemi’s remarks came as voting proceeded peacefully in several areas of the state, with election officials providing immediate attention to voters and election materials arriving as scheduled at many polling stations.
Likewise, former Senator representing Ekiti North, Senator Ayo Arise, also praised the conduct of the exercise after the polls in Oye Ekiti.
Speaking at his residence after the exercise, Arise described the election as peaceful and orderly, although he noted that voter turnout in some areas appeared lower than expected.
He said, “This election was very peaceful, very smooth and fast. But I’m not too sure if we got the turnout we expected. At my polling place, I’ve seen longer lines in previous elections. The turnout I saw was average—not too bad, but certainly not very high.
“Actually, I expected more in terms of support base for APC, but ultimately, I believe there is no serious competition for APC in this election.
Also read: Ekiti Poll: Oyebanji dominates polling stations at home as APC sweeps polling stations
“I’m not sure we’ve ever had 500,000 votes in any election in this day and age. This is an aspiration, something we pray for and look forward to.
“If we don’t comply, then this is not an indictment. It just means we have to work harder to encourage greater participation in the upcoming elections,” said the former member of the National Assembly.
Despite his doubts regarding the voter turnout, Arise expressed confidence that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would secure victory in the polls, stating that the party remained the dominant political force in the state.
The positive assessments from the two political leaders add to reports of a generally calm and orderly election process across Ekiti State as voters head to the polls to elect the next governor.
