Accreditation of Voters for today’s governorship election in Ado Ekiti has begun with a massive turn out of voters determined to vote despite intimidation by security forces massively deployed to the state.
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Under the watchful eyes of security agents, the electorates were seen undergoing accreditation for the voting in all the 16 local government areas of the state.
With their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in hand, voters queued up, despite the intense heat caused by the early morning sun.
Many of the voters who spoke to our correspondent said they are out to exercise their rights and ready to elect their favorite candidates for governor.
Several elderly persons supported by their children and relatives also stood buy for the accreditation processes.
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ad-hoc staff are also performing their role by putting the electorate through the processes of accreditation.
At the early stages, SaharaReporters observed that nearly many of the INEC ad hoc staff were confronted with the challenge of translation as many of the aged voters on the accreditation queues could only speak Yoruba while most INEC adhoc staff only speak English.
At Ikere Ekiti, voters came out early for the election, in some cases they had to trek miles before reaching their polling units for the accreditation. Security agencies have locked down the hole state preventing vehicular movement, several of them stood guard at every nooks and crannies of the area.
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Some soldiers harassed drivers for over claims they were violating security instructions. Some drivers were flogged for driving and picking up passengers to vote.
The drivers had their vehicles confiscated and were instructed to sit on bare floors for violating the no-movement order”.
Speaking with SaharaReporters via telephone, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Halilu Pai disclosed that all his personnel were sent as early as possible for the election.
Alhaji Pai said he does not expect any delays in arrival of election materials as INEC has already made proper arrangement for logistics.
“As am speaking with you now, all our personnel and materials have been deployed to all the local government areas of the state.”
“We have not experienced logistics problems, because we have mobilized our experienced personnel to handle the election process and we are commending the electorate for coming out en mass to participate in the election” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations in the state, Ikechukwu Aduba said his men are fully on ground for the election and warned political parties to follow electoral guidelines.
“The electoral process have started on a good note and our boys are on ground to ensure adequate security. We are even surprised that Ekiti people came out as early as 7: 30 am for the accreditation process despite INEC announcement of 8:00 am.
“We have not recorded any form of violence in all the 16 local government areas of the state were our men are posted, and I will advise that all political parties participating in the election should warn their supporters to conform with all electoral guidelines and process because we won’t condone any form of indiscipline” he said.
SaharaReporters noted that at 12 noon, accreditation process has ended while the voting exercises are commenced.
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