USA Restates Commitment To Credible Polls In Ekiti
The United States of America on Thursday said it is committed to peaceful, free, fair and credible July 14 governorship poll in Ekiti state.
The US Consul General, Mr. John Bray, who stated this in Ado Ekiti said the eyes of the world would be on state during the election.
Bray who spoke during a meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers at the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe assured that the US was committed to peace before, during and after the election.
He said, “We are on the side of the people. We are here to support free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
“The eyes of the world will be on Ekiti on July 14. We would be here and we won’t let you down.”
The American envoy was responding to the requests of the council, which is the umbrella body of traditional rulers in the state for a free, fair and credible election in a peaceful atmosphere.
The Chairman of the council and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, at the meeting had called on the US to guide against cash for votes during the forthcoming election in the state.
Oba Ademolaju who appealed to envoy to mobilize observers from across the globe to ensure each vote counted in the election said that the people of the state would resist manipulation in whatever form.
While noting that the governorship poll would be a pointer to what is to come in the 2019 general elections, he said, “We want you to use your good office to bring monitors all over polling units.
“Security agencies must be above board during and after the elections.
“We want everybody to be carried along. We want reputable groups as monitors present at polling units not people that will just be moving about.”
Also speaking, Oba Adejugbe said the people would be happy if the most popular candidate won the election.
“We want peace and vote to count. If the most popular candidate won at the end of the day, nobody would raise a voice.”
In his remarks, Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado, said the experience of 1983 election violence where many houses were burnt in the old Ondo State must be avoided by conducting a free and credible poll.
“We are concerned about safety in our domain, we don’t want Ekiti to be a battle ground. We want the choice of the people to emerge as governor in the election.”
