EKSIEC Presents Certificate Of Return To Ekiti LG Poll Winners
The Ekiti State Independent National Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), on Sunday, presented certificates of return to the winners of Saturday’s local government elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which contested the polls alongside four other prominent political parties in the state swept all the 16 Chairmen and 177 counclliorship seats in the poll.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), had on Thursday, announced its withdrawal from the poll through a statement issued by its Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatunbosun.
The SIEC Chairman in Ekiti State, Justice Kayode Bamisile, during a press briefing and presentation, urged them to act as true representatives of the people.
He said: “Your elections were meant to turn around the fortunes of the people. Don’t be selfish. Don’t treat people with contempt and make sure you keep to your electioneering promises.
“You must be magnanimous in victory. I mean, make sure you reach out to those who lose out, because democracy is all-inclusive”, he advised.
The swearing in ceremony was still ongoing at the government house at the time of filing this report.
Meanwhile, the APC has praised the people, including workers, pensioners, artisans, market women and the youth for refusing to participate in the local government elections organised by Fayose.
A statement by the party said that the refusal of Ekiti people to participate in the election was a pointer to a total rejection of Fayose and his party and a “confirmation of our assertion that Ekiti people are only waiting for 2018 governorship election to send Fayose and his PDP into the dustbin of Ekiti political history.
“Ekiti people are seriously angry and can’t wait to vote Fayose out in a free, fair and credible election organised by a credible independent umpire.
“What happened today is a reaction of Ekiti people to their sufferings over non-payment of pensioners, workers’ salaries, misappropriation and diversion of public funds into personal account, greed and executive rascality through which Fayose has impoverished Ekiti people.
“It is gratifying though that the Deputy Governor, Prof Kolapo Olusola, admitted while talking to journalists, that the polling booths were empty during the election, hinging their absence from polling booths on last minute Christmas shopping by voters.
“This is just an untenable alibi. The fact is that people naturally reacted to the sufferings Fayose unleashed on them by his mindless cornering of the state’s resources for his personal enjoyment and that of members of his family while Ekiti people suffer.”
“Ekiti people are angry with him for spending tax payers’ money on a charade called an election at a time workers and pensioners could not even feed or provide for the needs of their immediate family at Christmas, while many are on sick bed on account of the high level of Fayose’s wickedness and heartlessness.”
