Anxiety as soldiers, police take over Ekiti

Ekiti State was in the grip of anxiety last night as the clock ticked towards today’s governorship election.



Ado Ekiti, the state capital, swam with heavily armed policemen and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) while the hinterland was full of gun-wielding soldiers.

The soldiers mounted road blocks in and outside the state, searching vehicles as they passed.

Many residents expressed apprehension over the large presence of the securitymen.

Some decided to stay indoor while those who opened for business closed shops early. Although, ban on movements officially started at 6 pm last night, most people had voluntarily stayed indoors much earlier.

A resident who craved anonymity blamed the security personnel for instilling fear in the people by shooting sporadically into the air.

The situation, he said, helped in creating “an atmosphere of war.”

His words: “While I want the election to be free and fair, I don’t think it is good for the federal government to over-protect the process of assuring the sanctity of the process. The security personnel in this state now are simply too many, I mean too unjustifiably many.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) deplored the ‘militarisation’ of the state ahead of the elections.

They said in separate statements that the development does not fit into democratic norms and is capable of intimidating the people.

Governor Kayode Fayemi went on air yesterday appealing to the people to remain calm and be law-abiding during the election.

Dimeji Daniels, spokesperson for the Fayemi Campaign Organisation, hoped that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies “will uphold the provisions of the Electoral Act by staying neutral and impartial throughout the election period.”

He also asked the international community and well-meaning Nigerians to “beam their searchlights on Ekiti so that agents of retrogression don’t drag us back by rigging this election. “

At Afao, hometown of Mr. Ayodele Fayose, candidate of the PDP, supporters, aides and other party stalwarts were seen trooping in and out of his residence, apparently in readiness for today’s crucial election.

There was also a heavy presence of armed security personnel around the house and other parts of the town. When our correspondent visited the residence yesterday, Fayose was not around. Although the PDP candidate spent much of yesterday at Spotless Hotel in Ado Ekiti, putting finishing touches to his plans, his residence was still bubbling with activities.

The Iyin Ekiti residence of Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele, candidate of the Labour Party (LP), was also a beehive of activities.

Mrs. Olatunde Bruce, media and publicity secretary, Labour Party in Ekiti State, said supporters of the party “are fully prepared for this election.”