Millennium Foundation for Sustainable Development (MFSD) is one of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) accredited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to monitor the conduct of the just concluded gubernatorial election in Ekiti State.
Pursuant to this obligation, the MFSD deployed its members to the polling units in all the 16 Local Government Areas of the State to observe the conduct of the elections.
The findings from our members showed that there was a huge voter turnout in all the various polling units monitored by us across the three Senatorial zones of the state.
We want to observe that INEC officials and security agents reported on time with electoral materials and commenced accreditation on schedule. In many of the areas we visited like Ado, Ilawe, Igede, Iyin, Ayegbaju, Itapa, Ifaki, Isan, Ikole, Omuo, Ikere, Afao and Aramoko, the voters were orderly and the process was peaceful with the presence of security agents ensuring that the conduct of the election was not breached.
Apart from a few polling centres where the card readers malfunctioned, the exercise was generally hitch-free. We also observed the heavy presence of security agencies in the flash points of the state. In our view, this helped in ensuring and maintaining the peaceful atmosphere that prevailed throughout the State during the election.
We want to also observe that the agents of the two dominant parties in the election – the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were present at all the polling centres and conducted themselves well.
Based on our findings, we state as follows:
1. We commend the people of Ekiti State for their peaceful conduct.
2. We also congratulate INEC for conducting a free, fair and credible election.
3. We appreciate the security agencies for the even-handed manner they carried out their assignment.
4. We enjoin all the political gladiators in the election to accept the outcome of the election in good faith and note that the interest of the state is greater than the desires of any individual or group.
In conclusion, it is our conviction that the corporate will of the people prevailed in Ekiti. We must continue to improve in our democratic conduct to ensure that the values of democracy are fully entrenched in the land.
Matthew Ogu
Coordinator
