Ekiti poll: INEC assures physically challenged persons of safety

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has assured physically challenged persons of adequate security during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti.

The Public Relations Officer of INEC in the state, Mr Taiwo Gbadegesin, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ado-Ekiti on Friday. He said the commission was conscious of the peculiar condition of that category of Nigerians and would make sure they perform their civic responsibility.

The spokesman said the commission had embarked on a sensitisation programme since February to educate residents, particularly rural dwellers, on the need to ensure a peaceful election.

INEC, he added, had met members of the traditional institution as well as other stakeholders to enlighten them on the need for a peaceful poll. “We are very much optimistic that we will not have any problem,” he said.

Lai Mohammed: APC Governors barred from travelling to Ado for party's final campaign ahead of Saturday poll

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has raised the alarm that its Governors are being prevented by security agencies apparently acting on ''orders from above'' from travelling to Ado-Ekiti for the party's final campaign on Friday for the Ekiti State Governorship election on Friday.

In a statement issued in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said at least three Governors - Adams Oshiomhole of Edo, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers and
Rabiu Kwankwanso of Kano - have so far been prevented from making the trip

It said the helicopter that was to ferry Gov. Oshiomhole from Benin to Ado-Ekiti was refused permission to take off from the Benin Airport, while the plane that was flying Gov. Kwankwanso to Akure was denied permission to land.

Ekiti 2014: Nigerian military orders shoot at sight

The Nigerian military has ordered soldiers to shoot “whosoever is caught with any offensive weapons” in the buildup to the June 21 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State. This is as the military announced that it arrested three persons with a truck laden with out-dated election materials on Thursday in the state.

The run-up to the election has been characterised by violent clashes with the major political parties pointing accusing fingers at one another. Matters got to a head last Sunday when mobile police officers shot at the governor of the state, Kayode Fayemi, and his supporters during a rally in the state capital, Ado-Ekiti.

One Died as Police Attack Governor Fayemi And Senator Ojudu During APC Rally In Ado Ekiti (+ Photos)

A street rally in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, led by Senator Babafemi Ojudu to drum up support for the re-election of Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State turned bloody on Sunday as a contingent of the Nigeria anti-riot police led by their commander in the state, Selenkere Michael, an indigene of Bayelsa State, pounced on the APC members, tear-gassing and shooting at them. 

According to reports, the carnival-like street rally went on peacefully until the police unleashed a volley of teargas canisters and later used live bullets that killed a party member. 

A few minutes after the attack, the state governor, Kayode Fayemi arrived the scene of the attack to ascertain what happened, the rampaging policemen did not spare him, he was tear-gassed while some members of his security detail and the commissioner for integration in Ekiti State, Niyi Afuye, were arrested and taken away from the scene.

Fire wrecks PDP secretariat in Ekiti

The secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ajilosun area of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, was on Tuesday gutted by fire. The incident came barely five days after the governorship primaries that produced a former governor, Ayo Fayose, as the party’s flag bearer for the June 21 election.

Although the cause of the incident was unknown, the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, Victor Babayemi, confirmed the development to journalists.

Mr. Babayemi, however, said the incident would be investigated.