Commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators in Ado-Ekiti have continued their operations in defiance of the restriction of movement ordered by police for the conduct of the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State.
Even as at 8 a m. on Saturday when the accreditation and voting were scheduled to commence, some traders at major markets in Ado-Ekiti metropolis displayed their wares and attending to customers.
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The Police Commissioner in charge of Ekiti governorship election, Mr Abayomi Shogunle, had on Friday ordered restriction of vehicular movement from midnight of Friday till 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Some of the markets visited within the state capital included Eleyeo markets, Oja Oba Erekesan and Oja Bisi, where voting had already commenced.
A commercial motorcyclist, Oluwadare Adeleye, said he was carrying passengers because “the election is just a walk-over for Governor Biodun Oyebanji without serious opponents”, querying why he needed to sit at home.
Adeleye also noted that the security operatives on ground for the election were very friendly, unlike the past elections
On his part, Mr Moses Ajibade, a tricyclist, said he was aware of the restriction of movement order by the police, adding, however, that he needed to feed his family and fulfil his weekly contribution obligation, hence the need to engage in brisk business.
“I came out around 5:30 a.m hoping that by 8 a.m., I would stop but I have to continue working when I noticed there was no stoppage by security men,” he said.
Mrs Funmillayo Abolade, a pepper and vegetable seller, claimed that her items are seasonal and could be wasted if not disposed off at the right time.
“I can’t leave my market to waste; that’s why I came out to sell and I’m not here alone; you can see my other colleagues also selling their wares,” she said.
When reminded of the police restriction directive, Abolade said she was aware but added that she had no other options than to be at the market and go back to vote later.
Meanwhile, there was early arrival of election materials, massive turnout of voters as well as heavy presence of security operatives in most of the wards and polling units visited in Ado Local Government Area of the state.
In Ward 10, Unit 7 and Ward 8, Unit 9, accreditation and voting commenced exactly 8:30 a.m. as election officials had arrived at the units as early as 7 a.m.
At Ward 8, Unit 9, a former senator representing Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu, commended the large turnout of voters but described the process as cumbersome.
He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to intervene urgently to address the situation.
“It took them 30 minutes for the BVAS to capture my face and you can multiply that if we have 500 voters.
“This means some people have to be here till tomorrow. I am calling on INEC to do something urgently in this regard,” he said.
