By Akin Ogunmola
The voters register compiled by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC will be used to conduct next month’s Local Government and Local Council Development Areas election in Ekiti State.
The clarification was made by the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission EKSIEC Commissioner in charge of Publicity, Chief Soji Oloketuyi in Ado Ekiti while featuring on a live radio programme – Ekiti Ko ni baje on Voice FM.
He explained that on election day on Saturday, December 2, 2023, voting would take place between 8am and 2pm in all the 177 wards across the state.
Oloketuyi advised all eligible voters to conduct themselves orderly and peacefully on election day as law enforcement agencies would be on ground at the polling units to maintain law and order.
The Commissioner stressed the determination and commitment of the commission to conduct a free and fair poll, was why EKSIEC Chairman, Justice Cornelius Akintayo rtd has been leading his team on a tour of all the Local Government Areas-LGAs and Local Council Development Areas-LCDAs to sensitise all stakeholders on the need to participate fully in the election.
Oloketuyi in response to a caller’s question on why the numbers of councillors have not increased as a result of the creation of LCDAs, explained that delineation of wards is the constitutional responsibility of INEC and not the duty of the state election umpire.
And on the number of political parties sponsoring candidates in the council poll, the EKSIEC Commissioner noted that 18 parties have been attending meetings called by the commission but not all of them have returned the forms they obtained for the December 2 Election.