PDP Wins 25 Assembly Seats in Ekiti as INEC Orders Fresh Elections in Ilejemeje

LP, APC reject results, head for tribunal

Olakiitan Victor The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State has cleared all the 25 out of the 26 seats in the state House of Assembly officially declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The results of the Ilejemeje constituency was cancelled due to pervasive violence in the area during the poll and the INEC is yet to determine when to conduct fresh election in the area.

The official results received from INEC indicated that: Ado I, APC 3,189, LP 1,110, 10,065, Ado 2 constituency, the PDP scored 11,770 as against APC 4,660 and LP 301, Efon, PDP 5,637 beating APC and LP with 1,320 and 135 respectively,Ekiti East 1, PDP also won with 5,289, to beat APC 3,230, Ekiti East 2, PDP has 6,601 against APC 4,302 and LP 283, Ekiti West 1, PDP 6,531 against APC 3,601 and LP 1,272, Ekiti West 2, PDP scored 2,844 while the APC scored 2,505. In Ekiti South West 1, the PDP polled 4,413, APC 2,853 and LP 1,121, Ekiti South West 2, the PDP polled 4,118, APC 1,538, LP 1,538.

In Emure, APC 3,230, LP 2,674 and PDP 5,664, Gbonyin APC 5,627, LP 169, PDP 8,140, Ido Osi 1, APC 2,928, LP 461, PDP 7,365, Ido Osi 2, APC 2,269, LP 216, PDP 4,362,Ijero APC 6,759, LP 965, PDP 11,867, Ikere 1 APC 3,091, LP7, PDP 7,244, Ikere 2 APC 3,401, LP 12, PDP 6,570, Ikole 1: APC 4,421, LP 133, PDP 7,886,Irepodun/ Ifelodun 1: APC 2,708, LP 158, PDP 6,652, Ise Orun APC 4,235, LP 765, PDP 9,123, Moba 1: APC 3,246, LP 379, PDP 4,975, Moba 2: APC 2,373, LP 2,202, PDP 3,165, Oye 1: APC 4,334, LP 21, PDP 4,635, Oye 2: APC 4,505, LP 4, PDP 5,330.

Meanwhile, the state chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has accused INEC of robbing the party of four assembly seats during the last Saturday’s House of Assembly election in the state.

A chieftain of the party, Hon Opeyemi Bamidele, who spoke with journalists in Ado Ekiti yesterday, said the alleged fraud was perpetrated in Moba constituencies I and II , Emure and Ekiti South Constituency I. The LP chieftain said the party would challenge the outcome of the results at the election petition tribunal, saying the party has evidence to prove its case.

Also lambasting the INEC officials over what he called conspiracy against his party, Bamidele said: “In two of these constituencies, particularly in Moba II, the Electoral Officers had declared the LP candidate, Bolarinwa Pius Oluyomi the winner of the election, only for him to now go to an unknown destination and changed the results, even when our supporters were already jubilating.

“Also in Moba I, the results collated from the wards gave victory to our candidate, Mr Julius Adebiyi . But when the final collation was to take place, some PDP members brought soldiers to the venue and drove the people away and changed the results in favour of the PDP. The same frauds were perpetrated in Emure and Ekiti South West constituency I, where our candidates, Messrs Paul Awopetu and Benedict Oluyemo were robbed of their victories.” However, the INEC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Taiwo Gbadegesin, who refuted the allegation, said “It is not true. The results in all the constituencies were counted in the presence of the party agents from the units to the local government level and were duly signed.

“The hoodlums wanted to hijack the process in the constituencies but they were chased away by police and other security agencies. So, no results were falsified by our Electoral Officers. What we declared were authentic. We used soldiers to provide security at the collation centre and they did not participate in counting.”

Also, the APC in Ekiti State has rejected weekend House of Assembly elections, saying the exercise fell short of free and fair elections, vowing to challenge the result at the tribunal.

The state Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, said in a statement that there were cases of alleged intimidation by policemen and thugs deployed to polling units across the state by Governor Ayo Fayose. The Lagos State governor-elect, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has vowed to reciprocate the confidence repose in him by voting him.

The incoming governor who gave the assurance yesterday in his acceptance speech, attributed his electoral victory to Lagosians who voted for him in spite of all odds.

Fellow Lagosians, yesterday, election day, history beckoned. Courage stood tall. Fairness and justice raised their heads. Democracy blew its trumpet. You, the people, the electorate, answered its call by marching to a victory only you could achieve.

“You contested against an old and ancient device, the use of money and power to manipulate the result and thwart democracy. In the end, the sovereign will of the people proved worthier than money and mightier than brute force. Your collective voice remained the voice of Lagos.

“Now, the official announcement from INEC has come. Democracy has triumphed once again. INEC has declared me the 14th governor-elect of our beloved Lagos. I know that it is only God that crowns Kings. To Him be all the Glory.

“I may have won your vote but it is you, the people, who won the election. The true winners are the people of Lagos state. I accept this victory on your behalf.

“The people of Lagos have spoken. With one voice they have chosen continuity over an uncertain future. You came out peacefully to cast your vote. Not even the threats of our opponents to unleash mayhem could have kept you from having a date with destiny.

“And because you have answered our call to come out and vote and handed your party, APC victory at the polls you have sealed a pact with democracy and good governance.

“I shall honor that contract with every fiber of my being. This day I pledge to you that I shall devote myself to bringing even greater prosperity, growth and development to every inch of this state, that I shall build on the legacy and progress of the Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola administrations, I shall bring the best of Lagos into my government and I shall make you proud and glad that you chose me as your next governor,” he assured the people.

He expressed joy that the state government and the federal government that are now controlled by the APC with “one vision, one mind and one accord,” will bring about rapid transformation of Lagos State.

Ambode who poured encomium on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the conduct of the election, also thanked the APC President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari; APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu, outgoing Governor Babatunde Fashola, members of his campaign organisation and the Lagos State chapter of the APC for their roles in actualising his governorship ambition some thugs made away with ballot boxes and result sheets in the constituencies.

Meanwhile, of the three candidates being tipped to replace Hon. Chinwe Nwaebili as the speaker of Anambra State House of Assembly, Nikky Ugochukwu, Paully Onyeka and Rita Maduagwu of Nnewi South, Ikemefuna Uzoezie made it.

Before the election, there were fears that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by the former governor, Mr. Peter Obi, who defected from APGA were plotting to rig the election, so that they can impeach the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano.

The former Governor was said to have lost his Agulu ward in Anaocha Local Government Area to Obiano, his political son.