Ekiti to conduct council polls Dec 19

The Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission has fixed December 19 for the Local Government and Councilorship elections in the State.

The Chairman, Justice Kayode Bamisile (retd.), announced this on Monday at a press briefing in Ado Ekiti.

The announcement came amid protest by the Chairman of the Inter-party Advisory Council, Dele Ekunola, that the commission did not carry them along in fixing the time table for the election.

The last election was held under the administration of former governor Segun Oni in 2008, while efforts made by his predecessor, Dr Kayode Fayemi to conduct same on February 4, 2011 was stalled by a judgment of the Ado Ekiti High Court, which voided the composition of the then SIEC.

Bamisile, who assured political parties of a level-playing field in the election said it was the prerogative of the commission to fix time table for the election, as conferred on it by the Electoral Act 2011.

He threatened that the commission would be hard on any person or security agency found contravening the electoral process during the election, in compliance with the dictate of the Electoral Law.

“We wish to use this opportunity to assure all registered political parties in the state that Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission as the electoral umpire would create a level playing ground for all participants.

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“We would demonstrate and manifest positive positive neutrality, even-handedness and what America labels as bi-partisanship. I hereby wish to admonish all political parties in Ekiti State to avoid any form of violence before, during and after the conduct of the election.”

Responding, Bamisile, a former Chief Judge of the State, said the fact that Governor Ayodele Fayose appointed an illiterate carpenter, Mr Olatunde Afolayan, as the caretaker chairman of Moba Local Government did not make whoever had less certificate qualified for the elections.

“The governor only exercised his discretion in appointing that man into that position. But this one is different. This is an elective position and not appointive one and what the Electoral Law specified is a minimum of school certificate,” he clarified.

The chairman also denied being a member of any political party, describing it as “coming from frustrated minds, who only wanted to say something to derail the entire process.”