Non-indigenes pledge support as Fayemi takes campaign to Ikole

Non-indigenes resident in Ikole Local Government Area of Ekiti State have pledged their support for Governor Kayode Fayemi in the June 21 governorship election. The ethnic nationalities, including the Tiv, Idoma, Igede and Ebira who turned out for the All Progressives Congress (APC) rallies held in Oke- Ako, Irele and Ipao communities yesterday, said they had benefited immensely from the Fayemi administration. They said Fayemi’s construction of roads in rural communities contributed “immensely” to the conveying of farm produce to the urban areas. The campaign train took Fayemi to Ayebode, Odo-Ayedun, Oke-Ayedun, Iyemero, Itapaji and Odo-Oro. A prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain in Oke Ayedun, Mr. Adebisi Ogunsakin, defected to the APC along with his supporters at the rally held in the town. The governor also received royal blessings from the traditional rulers of the communities
who appreciated him for spreading dividends of democracy to their people. Fayemi said his administration did not neglect any community, nothing that the APC government has given all communities what is due to them. These, according to him, include road, payment of monthly stipends to the aged, youth employment, grants to finance projects in rural communities, renovation of schools, payment of special allowances to teachers in rural areas and empowerment of farmers with loans and equipment. The governor said Ikole Local Government area is one of the councils to be divided into smaller administrative units when the panel on creation of new councils concludes its assignment. He urged the electorate to come out en masse to vote for APC on June 21. Fayemi charged them to guard their votes against “electoral robbers” who, according to him, are desperate to grab power by all means. Also yesterday, the Kayode Fayemi Campaign Organisation urged all registered voters in the state who are yet to obtain their permanent voter’s cards to do forwith. May 21 has been designated as the last day for the collection and transfer of voter’s cards in the state. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is worried over the high number of permanent voter’s cards yet to be collected. According to the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Halilu Pai, only 285,794 of the 635,315 permanent voter’s cards had been collected. In a statement in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the spokesperson of the campaign organisation, Mr. Dimeji Daniels, said with the May 21 deadline set by INEC, there were only six days left for those yet to collect their cards to do so if they are willing to vote on June 21. Last week, INEC said temporary voters’ card would not be allowed on election date. The campaign organisation urged people to collect their permanent voter’s cards (PVCs) to be able to keep their choice in the June 21 governorship election, Fayemi, in office for the delivery of more dividends of democracy.