The people of Èkiti State will today elect chairmen and councillors into the local governments and local council development areas across the state.
The election which is taking place in 16 local government and 22 local council development areas in the state, is coming exactly two years after a similar exercise that ushered in the current administration at the local government level in the state, held on December 4, 2021.
The state runs a 2-year tenure for local government administration.
No fewer than 13 registered political parties are participating in today’s election billed to take place between 8:00am and 2:00pm in 177 wards across the state.
As part of preparations to ensure a smooth, free, fair and credible election, the Èkiti State Independent Electoral Commission had on Thursday distributed both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all the local government and local council development areas.
The distribution of materials which took place at the commission’s premises at the back of the State Library, Ado-Ekiti, the Èkiti State capital, was witnessed by the leadership of all political parties participating in the election.
Speaking at the event, Justice Cornelius Akintayo, EKSIEC chairman, explained that the materials were being despatched early enough to ensure timely arrival at all nooks and crannies of the State.
Akintayo, a retired judge, had earlier guaranteed political parties of a level playground to all candidates at a news conference, warning against any act that could disrupt peace conduct of the election.
Stakeholders at the meeting included leadership of 13 political parties, drivers unions, tricycle and Okada riders associations, and market men and women.
EKSIEC had also made it’s staff undergo a 2-day training at a workshop themed ‘Towards the Conduct of a Free, Fair & Credible Local Government Election in Ekiti State as part of preparations for a successful poll, while ad hoc staff had been recruited and adequately trained.
The Èkiti State Police Command, on Friday, deployed adequate Security across all polling units and identified flashpoints in order to ensure security of citizens, election materials and electoral officials.
In a statement signed by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Abutu Sunday, the state Police Commissioner, CP Ogundare Dare, warned hoodlums, criminals and political thugs to stay off election vicinities during and after the poll to avoid unpleasant consequences.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Human Rights Community (NIHRCO) said it had deployed 400 observers to the 177 wards of the state to monitor today’s election.
In a statement signed by Taiwo Adeleye and Fred Ojinika, NIHRCO, a coalition of 132 human rights and civil society organisations, stated that the observers were expected to monitor and document pre-election, election and post-election issues relating to democratic gains, challenges, threats and opportunities with the overall aim of deepening the Nigerian democratic space and empower the people to take charge of their affairs.
By Tunde Adeleke
