From Ayodele Samuel,Lagos
A non-governmental organisation, the National Vanguard for Democracy and Development (NVDD) has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the peaceful and credible conduct of the Ekiti Gubernatorial elections.
Also the Media for Ethnic Equality (MEE) has commended the people of Ekiti State for peaceful conduct.
The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Ayo Fayose got majority votes in the 16 local government areas of the state defeating incumbent governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi.
The three contenders at the poll were Kayode Fayemi, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bamidele Opeyemi of the Labour Party and Fayose, the PDP candidate and former governor.
In a statement issued the NVDD said INEC has proved to Nigerians that it has improved on its capacity to deliver glitch-free, freee and fair and credible polls.
National Coordinator of the group, Emeka Obinagwu explained that: “Initially enemies of democracy had thought the election would even degenerate into violence but the outcome has shamed them. INEC has done a good job in Ekiti and iy is commendable.”
“While we remain non-aligned in our commitment to ensuring that an untainted Nigerians emerge from any of the parties, we must also commend the security agencies for living up to expectation by ensuring that the gubernatorial election was free and fair and rancour-free even though divisive elements had predicted the reverse.”
Obinagwu however, urged the police and other security agencies to step up information-gathering rather that raw display of amour so that future election will not withness the kind of trepidations that occurred in Ekiti few days before the elections MEE In a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Iyiola Johnson, said Ekiti people “ has once again demonstrated their sophistication in the handling of issues that concern their lives” The election was won by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate , Mr Ayodele Fayose who polled 203 ,090 to defeat incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who polled 120,433.
