Akume, Uba disagree on Ekiti gov election The Senate Minority Leader, Senator George Akume (APC Benue North West) on Tuesday argued that the Ekiti State governorship election that produced, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, was highly militarised and commercialised. Akume, a former governor of Benue State, therefore noted that the election cannot be said to be free and fair and hence, its outcome should not be seen as being credible. But the Chairman Senate Committee on Independent National Electoral Commission, Senator Andy Uba ( PDP Anambra South), said the election was transparently and successfully conducted by INEC . Akume in an interview with journalists said, “The Ekiti election has come and gone but the highly militarised and commercialised process of the election which must have in one way or the other affected its results substantially cannot just be waved aside. “It is a fact though that the Governor of the State, a democrat to the core and product of our great party, Kayode Fayemi has accepted the result by congratulating the winner, Ayodele Fayose. “Questions such as, why were APC governors prevented from entering Ado Ekiti, two days to the election for the party’s mega rally to shore up support for Fayemi, should be answered. “Also, why did the same soldiers or Police arrest APC leaders across 16 local government areas of the state on the day of election without corresponding arrest of leaders of PDP? “These questions must be asked before jumping to conclusion that the election was substantially credible.” He, however said, “As bad as the election process may be, credit needs to be given to Fayemi who has no doubt set a good precedence for all other political players in the country on electoral contests and their outcomes. “Fayemi has no doubt proven that in APC, there are democrats indeed, who are always ready to put the interest of the country first in whatever circumstances they find themselves.” Uba in his own reaction, in a statement commended the successful conduct of the election which he described as very credible. Uba said, “Peace and stability which are integral component of meaningful development in any society, were exemplified in the Ekiti election by INEC .” He applauded INEC for a work well done. On the alleged militarisation of the electoral process, Uba commended President Jonathan for providing adequate security manpower and logistics for the smooth conduct of the election. He said, “I salute the effort of Mr President who graciously provided adequate security manpower and logistics to ensure that no life was lost, thereby giving the Ekiti voters adequate confidence in coming out to vote.” He therefore urged the federal government and INEC to use the Ekiti election as a litmus test for the 2015 general elections. He said, “I also wish to urge INEC and the federal government to use this very election as a litmus test towards the conduct of the 2015 election, by making sure that all that is required for a peaceful, free, fair and credible election is achieved.”
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 16:36:21 +0000
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