APC Gives Proofs Of How PDP Rigged Ekiti Election

More than two weeks after the governorship election in Ekiti State, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South-West, says it has finally revealed ways through which the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allegedly rigged the election.

It could be recalled that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had on 22 June, 2014, declared Ayo Fayose of PDP as the winner of the Ekiti governorship election held on 21 June, 2014.

According to the results of the election announced by INEC, Fayose garnered the most votes in all the local government in Ekiti ahead of the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi of the APC and Bamidele Opeyemi of the Labour Party.

Reviewing the outcome of the Ekiti election through a communique released at the end of a caucus meeting held in Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday, 1 July, 2014, the APC said the election was far from being free and fair.

The party claimed the events preceding, during and after the election indicated that it was not free and fair, alleging the election was rigged in a manner the country had never witnessed before.

APC also claimed that there were perceived militarization of the electoral process, noting that was aptly demonstrated by the restriction of movements of people and the barring of APC governors from entering the state for the final rally of the party on Thursday June 19, 2014.

“As a matter of fact, Ekiti State was factually sealed up to all non-PDP personnel while the squad of Musiliu Obanikoro, the Minister of State for Defence, Jelili Adesiyan, Minister of Police Affairs, Kasamu Buruji and Iyiola Omisore allegedly had free days going in and out of Ekiti unmolested and ferrying goods suspected to be ballot papers, cash, arms and ammunitions from Akure airport into Ekiti," the statement read.

 * PDP's Ayo Fayose and Governor Kayode Fayemi of APC

The party also stated that many APC leaders from different local governments and communities were allegedly arrested in the dead of the night before the election and were released without any charges brought against them after the announcement of the results of the governorship election.

The communique reads: “A lot of people who had earlier been accredited by the polling clerks were disfranchised for no justifiable reason. Not known to the electoral law or the procedure of previous elections was the folding of ballot papers."

APC also alleged that the PDP used a procedure that activated the votes that had been programmed on the ballot papers.

It was gathered that the caucus meeting held in Ibadan was presided over by National Vice Chairman, Chief Pius Akinyelure, and the Deputy National Chairman (South) of the Party, Engr. Segun Oni.

Other members present at the meeting include: Otunba Henry Ajomale, Lagos State Chairman, Alhaji Roqeeb Adeniji, the Ogun State Chairman, High Chief Jide Awe, Ekiti State Chairman, Chief Akin Oke, Oyo State Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, National Financial Secretary, Rev. Tunji Adebiyi and Ayo Afolabi. 

After the Ekiti election was announced by INEC, the governor-elect, Fayose said the people of Ekiti state chose him ahead of Governor Fayemi because they know him to be a grassroots person.

He promised to work with all the opposition parties for the interest of Ekiti people.

Source: Legit.ng