Ekiti decides: Poll peaceful, turnout impressive – Gov Oyebanji, Senate leader, Opeyemi declare
Ekiti decides: Poll peaceful, turnout impressive – Gov Oyebanji, Senate leader, Opeyemi declare
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, on Saturday praised the conduct of the election across the state, noting that the exercise was largely peaceful, organised, and without significant interruptions in all 16 local government areas.
The governor, who voted at Okelele Ward 6, Unit 3 in Ekiti West Local Government Area around 11:30 a.m., also expressed delight over what he described as encouraging voter participation, saying residents turned out in significant numbers to exercise their civic rights.
Oyebanji appealed to voters to exercise patience with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that minor operational challenges were inevitable but assured that such issues would be promptly resolved to ensure no eligible voter was disenfranchised.
He maintained that, based on updates received from across the state, the exercise had remained calm and efficient, with citizens conducting themselves peacefully while participating in the process.
The governor also responded to concerns raised by opposition figures regarding alleged intimidation, dismissing them as unverified claims that would require proper substantiation.
He further expressed confidence that the state could achieve its target of 500,000 votes, stressing that the figure was attainable if voter engagement remained strong and the process continued smoothly.
In a similar vein, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, who also participated in the election, described the exercise as well-organised and largely peaceful, particularly in the early hours of voting.
Speaking with journalists after casting his ballot, Bamidele noted that electoral officials arrived promptly with both sensitive and non-sensitive materials, ensuring that accreditation and voting commenced as scheduled in his polling unit.
He commended the swift deployment of security personnel as well as the professionalism of INEC officials, adding that no incidents of violence had been reported across polling centres at the time of his assessment.
According to him, the ongoing election also presents an opportunity to assess Nigeria’s evolving electoral system, adding that any meaningful reform would require broad consultation with INEC, political parties, and election observers.
However, he cautioned against making hasty amendments to electoral laws during an ongoing process, stressing that consistency in electoral rules remains crucial to safeguarding democratic credibility.
As voting continued across the state, both leaders maintained an optimistic outlook, expressing hope that the exercise would conclude peacefully with strong voter participation recorded in several areas.
