Anxiety in Isan-Ekiti over Fayemi’s safety
There is growing apprehension among the residents of Isan Ekiti about the safety of Governor Kayode Fayemi.
About five minutes ago, a police helicopter hovered about 10 times on the governor’s private residence and at his polling booth. The governor was still in his residence when the incident happened.
Some of the people who spoke to our correspondent expressed doubts about the sincerity of security agencies to remain neutral during the election.
Meanwhile, the delay experienced on Saturday morning in the deployment of some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to their various polling units, has been attributed to the failure of security agencies to provide cover for the officials before the commencement of accreditation.
Speaking with journalists at Isan-Ekiti, INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, said the commission had hitches in few places because it was determined not to deploy its officials without the presence of security agents that would accompany them.
Olorode said: “I think what we have seen is that polls actually commenced as scheduled. In fact in Ado-Ekiti, poll started at exactly 8am. Though we have some instances where we commenced the exercise rather late than we had expected, the context in which this happened was because we are trying to mobilise security because we have decided not to mobilise until we have adequate security cover. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Ilaje, Ese Odo in Ondo State. Our officials are ready but we need security cover before we launch out.
“We had delay but it is not generalized, not in all cases. You don’t expect us to deploy when we don’t have security. If there is a delay on the part of security agents, I think you should throw it back to them on why they delayed. We all work together and we have an inter-agency consultative forum. We should understand that there is an improvement in Ekiti State compared to what we had before.”
About five minutes ago, a police helicopter hovered about 10 times on the governor’s private residence and at his polling booth. The governor was still in his residence when the incident happened.
Some of the people who spoke to our correspondent expressed doubts about the sincerity of security agencies to remain neutral during the election.
Meanwhile, the delay experienced on Saturday morning in the deployment of some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to their various polling units, has been attributed to the failure of security agencies to provide cover for the officials before the commencement of accreditation.
Speaking with journalists at Isan-Ekiti, INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Lai Olurode, said the commission had hitches in few places because it was determined not to deploy its officials without the presence of security agents that would accompany them.
Olorode said: “I think what we have seen is that polls actually commenced as scheduled. In fact in Ado-Ekiti, poll started at exactly 8am. Though we have some instances where we commenced the exercise rather late than we had expected, the context in which this happened was because we are trying to mobilise security because we have decided not to mobilise until we have adequate security cover. We don’t want a repeat of what happened in Ilaje, Ese Odo in Ondo State. Our officials are ready but we need security cover before we launch out.
“We had delay but it is not generalized, not in all cases. You don’t expect us to deploy when we don’t have security. If there is a delay on the part of security agents, I think you should throw it back to them on why they delayed. We all work together and we have an inter-agency consultative forum. We should understand that there is an improvement in Ekiti State compared to what we had before.”
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