The dust created by the just concluded local government election held in Ekiti state is yet to settle. This is coming on the heels of alleged rigging of the exercise by the APC led state government. The said election was said to be characterized with ballot snatching,threat to lives and brandishing of weapons to scare away voters.
Honorable Bolaji Oni, a politician in Ikole local government area of the state made these assertions while reacting to what he tagged act of thuggery and brigandage by APC thugs to rig an election which was solely conducted and contested by the APC itself.
In a press statement made available to newsmen, Bolaji Oni warned that the 2022 gubernatorial election must not be a repetition of what was displayed by the APC at the council poll.
The statement reads:
“The Ekiti State local Government election held on the 5th of December, 2021 has come and gone but it will remain a dark day in the history of Nigeria’s democracy.
As a politician and an observer, I was left bemused that despite the non participation of the main opposition Party (PDP), but with inclusion of Parties like; YPP, NRM, ADC, APGA and AA, which were regarded by the ruling Party to be mushroom Parties, it Election was still characterized by massive ballot snatching and vote stuffing.
The show of shame witnessed at Ward 5 unit 7, Ikole Ekiti where ballot boxes were stolen and those who had the guts to protest were chased with cutlass by thugs driving in an APC branded bus.
It is high time the responsibilities of conducting Local Government election be given to the independent National Electoral Commission, it is the only way to deepen Nigeria democracy.
As residents of Ekiti state march towards the conduct of the June 18th 2022 Gubernatorial poll, the onus is on the residents to avoid violence and bloodshed but ensure they get their PVCs, come out in mass and stand with theír votes. .
Hon. Bolaji Oni”
