35 political parties taking part in Ekiti poll, says INEC

 

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is prepared for Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti.

 

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Abdulganih Olayinka, told newsmen on Friday in Ado-Ekiti that all materials were  already at  the 16  local government areas while  the  commission’s staff  and security agents were set to commence the exercise.

 

According to him, the materials were monitored directly in his office through the commission’s official vehicle tracker connected to a giant television screen.

 

He enjoined all eligible voters to come out  and  cast their votes as adequate security had  been put in place to ensure a hitch-free electoral process.

 

The REC also confirmed that Ekiti has 913,334 voters out of which 646, 000 had  collected their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), with about  250,000 still in the commission’s vaults.

 

He also said 35 political parties were participating in the election as against the initial 40 that had initially signaled intent to field candidates.

 

The policed deployed 30, 000 officers to the stat for the poll with other security operatives complementing them.

There was fracas on Wednesday in Ekiti leading to governor Ayodele Fayose being assaulted by the police.