By Toba Babalola
Barely a month to the conduct of elections into the Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the 16 Local Government areas and 19 Local Council Development Areas, the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) has started a sensitization tour to enlighten the people on the need to come out enmasse to exercise their franchise on the election day.
The team, led by the Commission’s Chairman, Justice Babajide Aladejana, had meetings with traditional and religious leaders, representatives of Security Agencies, traders, Youths, transport unions, Artisans and politicians.
Addressing the people at the different places visited, Justice Aladejana spelt out the Ekiti State Electoral law of 2011 that established the electoral body to oversee the conduct of local council elections.
He said the tour was part of efforts to inform the public on the forthcoming council polls scheduled for December 4.
The EKSIEC Boss urged the stakeholders to encourage their wards, of voting age, to come out and participate in the election which would afford them the opportunity to determine the development of their local Councils for the next two years.
Justice Aladejana reiterated the stand of the Commission to conducting a free, fair, transparent and acceptable council poll.
Corroborating the Chairman, the Commissioners in the board, Mr Tajudeen Faleemu, Mrs Yetunde Fosudo, and the Director of Logistics, Mrs Adenike Adedayo, said that the grassroot was crucial to the sustenance of democracy, adding that “the success of the forthcoming poll was a collective responsibility.”
Emphasizing the impartiality of Ekiti SIEC in the conduct of the council poll, the officials noted that the electoral guidelines stipulates that only those with means of identification on the Permanent Voter Card would be eligible to vote on the election day.
In their reactions, the traditional rulers, chiefs, market traders and members of the political parties expressed their support for the state electoral body,.
They called for adequate distribution of electoral guidelines to the people and ensure wider publicity of the election ahead of the conduct.
Representatives of the security Agencies, which included, the Nigeria Police, Civil Defence Corps and Department of State Security Service warned against violence, before, during and after poll.
A playlet was staged by the students of Federal University Oye Ekiti to sensitize people on the need to avoid vote buying, but to choose suitable candidates that would enhance the development of their areas.
