EKITI 2014: FG ’ll not interfere in Ekiti election —Presidency

The Federal Government has said that President Goodluck Jonathan has no plans to interfere with the electoral process in Ekiti State ahead of June 21 governorship poll. The Special Adviser to the President on Inter- Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi, who stated this gave the declaration in Ado-Ekiti. He spoke at a sensitisation workshop organised by his office for political parties, governorship candidates as well as stakeholders in the electoral process. According to him, President Jonathan had also maintained to date that non-interference in the affairs of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) by the powers that be was an important factor that could guarantee free, fair and credible election. Obi said: “No prior administration had given electoral bodies such free hand in electoral process without intervention from Abuja. The President has continued to emphasise at different fora, the need for free and fair elections so as to consolidate our democracy.” He continued, “This was why he once called on those who loved him not to rig for him in the build-up to the last presidential election. He urged the candidates involved in the poll to eschew violence as well as avoid resorting to self-help. The presidential adviser asked them to do everything to reduce the current tension in the state by conducting themselves and their supporters in the manner that is not averse to peaceful co-existence. Also speaking on the occasion, chairman of the event, General David Jemibewon (retd), called on stakeholders in Ekiti election to see themselves as brothers. Jemibewon urged them and their followers to refrain from activities that could make them perpetual enemies after the June 21 election. Former Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Dr Eddie Iroh, who delivered a lecture titled, “Democracy and the politics of elections,” at the occasion, warned against attempt to truncate democracy through avoidable mistakes of politicians and their supporters. Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Felix Uyanna, promised tight security during the poll, saying apart from using helicopter for air surveillance, no fewer than eight commissioners of police would be deployed to Ekiti. He said at least, one commissioner would man each of the three Senatorial Districts, while three policemen would man each polling booth. Stakeholders present at the workshop included: Mr Ayo Fayose of PDP, Mr Kole Ajayi of Accord Party as well as governor Kayode Fayemi of APC, who was represented by the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Mr Bimbo Daramola.