Ekiti decides: PDP Guber candidate alleges foul play over voting delays

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has condemned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies, accusing them of a deliberate attempt to compromise the ongoing governorship election.

The governorship candidate expressed his frustration at Unit 6, Ward 3, Osagulu Hall, where administrative and logistical bottlenecks ground the voting process to a halt.

Despite enthusiastic voters arriving at the polling unit as early as 7:00 a.m. to cast their ballots, voting materials and officials had yet to commence the exercise as of 10:00 a.m.

Dr. Oluyede, who is registered to vote at the affected unit, did not hold back his anger over the extensive delays, pointing fingers at complicit actors on the ground.

“As you can see here, the people have been on the line since 7:00 a.m. and now it is 10:00 a.m. and yet voting is yet to commence. I also witnessed acts that were aided by the security agents on ground, and I must tell you I will not let this slide. Every irregularity will be challenged in the court of law,” Oluyede stated, visibly furious before departing the venue.

Despite the friction at Oluyede’s polling unit, field reports filtering in from various parts of the state paint a vastly different picture, indicating that the critical election is progressing under a largely calm and orderly atmosphere.

In Ilawe-Ekiti, a major voting hub within the Ekiti South senatorial district, the electoral process moved at a remarkably swift pace. By late morning, voting had successfully concluded across several polling units in the area, with voters transitioning smoothly to wait for the official commencement of ballot sorting and counting.

Interestingly, early observations from Ilawe-Ekiti indicate a strong showing of support for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), a noteworthy development given that the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Dare Bejide, hails from the ancient town.

As of the time of filing this report, the overall security situation across the state remains stable. Voters, election officials, and security teams continue to maintain a peaceful environment while monitoring the final phases of the voting process.

While the isolated complaints raised by the PDP camp will likely spark post-election legal reviews, the general mood across Ekiti State remains one of quiet anticipation as residents wait for the definitive outcome of this high-stakes gubernatorial poll.