EKITI: Fayemi Calls For Voters’ Vigilance As Guber Poll Gets Underway

As people of Ekiti State go to the polls today, the state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has called on them to be vigilant as they cast their ballots in the gubernatorial election. Gov. Fayemi made the call in a state-wide broadcast to the people of the state yesterday, urging them to accord security agencies and other relevant authorities full cooperation to ensure the success of the polls. While noting that the price of liberty is eternal freedom, he called on all eligible voters to come out and perform their civic duty and also comply with election rules and regulations while doing so, and reminded the citizens of the state that regardless of partisan allegiances, they were sons and daughters of Ekiti where they dwell and which they build together. The governor, however, condemned the action of some security agents, who harassed some serving governors, whose freedom of movement was infringed upon as they were coming to witness the final rally of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday. His words: “One must be concerned however as to the ignoble role that some security agents played in the harassment meted out to serving governors of the Federal Republic of Nigeria yesterday when their right to freedom of movement as enshrined in the Constitution of our great country was violated without an infraction of any known law of the land. “As the chief security officer of our state, it is my hope that the unfortunate occurrence of yesterday is not a reflection of collusion between security agencies and partisan interests in preparation for compromising the integrity of Saturday’s election”, Fayemi said. He further stated that fairness and credibility of the elections are inimitable conditions for the acceptance of the outcome by the honourable people of Ekiti State, pointing out that the election offers Ekiti people the greatest opportunity in their history to deepen democracy and culture of freedom having listened to candidates of political parties since March 23, when the ban on political activities was lifted in line with the Electoral Act. The governor, who is seeking re-election under the banner of APC, also charged the people to use the election to collectively pursue their honour and act as a role model for electoral integrity and transparency despite the odds.