Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti on Saturday commended INEC for introducing innovations which would eliminate delays in the voting process as well as eradicate irregularities during elections.
The governor gave the commendation after voting at about 1. p.m. at his Ojilolo Ward 1 Polling Unit in Isan-Ekiti.
Fayemi said he was particularly impressed at the early arrival of INEC officials as well as materials, adding that information available indicated that they arrived before 9.a.m. across the state.
The governor said that with this development, there were indications that the Ekiti election would record fewer hitches than that of Anambra in November 2013.
He, however, expressed worry over the activities of some security agencies which he accused of bias by indiscriminately arresting his supporters.
Fayemi , who alleged that some persons who had no role to play in the electoral process were in the state, urged the relevant agencies of government to intervene in the matter.
NAN reports that voting has commenced across the 16 local government areas of the state.
In many polling units visited by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondents in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, voters were seen casting their votes amidst tight security.
At Unit 001 in Afao Ward, Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area, voting commenced at exactly 12.40 p.m. with the first voter, Tope Oke, dropping his ballot paper in the ballot box.
The Alafao of Afao, Oba Joseph Ademilua, who voted at the polling unit, commended INEC over the conduct of the election.
“So far, I am impressed that there are no complaints of missing registers or missing names or registered voters.
“I am equally impressed with the way the voters here are conducting their affair in a very peaceful manner,’’ he said.
He, however, advised INEC and other stakeholders to sustain the peaceful atmosphere that had been put in place.
At Ward 003 of Eiyelori Polling Unit in Iyin-Ekiti where the Labour Party candidate, Mr Opeyemi Bamidele, voted at 1.p.m., there were many voters in the queue.
Reacting to the exercise, Bamidele urged voters to troop out and exercise their franchise, saying the heavy security presence was to maintain peace.
“I urge Ekiti voters not to be intimidated by the heavy presence of voters; it is for good. We hope this will encourage transparency in the entire process from polling units to state collation center,’’ he said.
Other polling units visited where peaceful conduct of the election was ongoing were in Iworoko-Ekiti, Are-Ekiti and Ifaki-Ekiti.
