The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that fresh elections would now take place in two wards in Oye-Ekiti next Tuesday. Last Saturday's election re-run was inconclusive in the two wards due to violence.
INEC's announcement came just as Yar'adua made an elaborate statement through his spokesperson, Segun Adeniyi, calling on his People's Democratic Party (PDP)to allow the "will of the Ekiti People" to prevail in the elections.
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Yar'adua also called on Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo to return to Ekiti to conclude the elections as "her conscience and God dictates".
But Yar'adua's critics have been quick to challenge him to prove himself. They say the "President," known for grandstanding and deceit, is merely posturing in view of reports that his predecessor, Olusegun Obasanjo, has publicly chastised his purported "electoral reform" mantra. Yar'adua came to power in April 2007 through massively rigged elections that were condemned by local and international observers.
Yar'adua's call contradicts INEC's statement, which suggests that elections have been concluded in nine local governments in Ekiti State except in the two wards where election would take place on Tuesday. INEC's assertion further compounds the tense situation in the state, which led the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs. Ayoka Adebayo, to resign her position during the week, although Yar’Adua later ordered her back to her position to conclude the election.
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Her resignation followed plans by PDP operatives and the Nigerian police to compel her to announce doctored elections results that had been prepared in a Police Station in Ido-Osi local government area. Her aides told Saharareporters that those results did not have the requisite signature of party polling agents. Today, Saharareporters spoke briefly with aides to Mrs. Adebayo and they confirmed to our reporters that the elections in Oye-Ekiti would take place on Tuesday as announced by the INEC headquarters, but they were silent on the status of the doctored Ido-Osi results. They further confirmed that Mrs. Adebayo would be moving to Ekiti tomorrow (Sunday) to begin full preparations for the elections.
They assured us that nothing has changed regarding her position on the conduct of last week's elections.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Mike Okiro reportedly forwarded N50 million to Philemon Leah, Commissioner of Police in charge of the Mobile Police unit, to ensure victory for the PDP candidate, Segun Oni, in Tuesday's election. Okiro, who has refused to give up lobbying for the extension of his tenure as the IG of Police, met with Mr. Oni and exchanged text messages with him on Oni’s mobile number 0807-575-9105 on plans to assist the candidate win the remainder of the votes in Oye-Ekiti.
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