Ekiti Guber: PDP Candidate Alleges INEC Delays, Voter Intimidation

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr Wole Oluyede, has raised concerns over delays in the accreditation and voting process during the state’s governorship election, alleging voter intimidation and possible manipulation.

Oluyede made the allegations on Saturday after casting his vote at Osaguru Hall, Unit 6, Ward 3, Ikere-Ekiti.

Speaking with journalists, the PDP candidate described the pace of voting at his polling unit as unacceptable, claiming that only a few voters had successfully completed the process more than an hour after the commencement of voting.

He expressed concern that delays in the electoral process could disenfranchise voters and undermine confidence in the election.

“I feel very unfortunate that all I can get here is a handful of cameras, whereas down the road where the deputy governor votes, there is an army of policemen harassing people,” Oluyede said.

The PDP candidate also accused some security personnel deployed to the area of intimidating voters, alleging that some operatives were using unofficial vehicles.

According to him, he had documented the incidents and would present the evidence at the appropriate time.

“You should go there and see the army of policemen that are harassing people. They are using false vehicles. I taped them; I have evidence of that, and I will show you when it is appropriate,” he said.

Oluyede further questioned the effectiveness of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s arrangements, alleging that technical delays contributed to the slow pace of voting.

“The process is actually useless. People have been here for about one and a half hours and only five people have voted in my polling unit. That’s what they do all the time, so I am suspecting that there is something wrong with the INEC process,” he added.

He said officials at the polling unit had contacted the relevant technical support team but that assistance had not arrived after several minutes.

The PDP candidate urged INEC and security agencies to ensure that all eligible voters were allowed to participate without obstruction.

He stressed that a transparent and credible election was necessary to strengthen democracy and protect the rights of citizens.

The Ekiti governorship election has attracted attention from political parties, civil society groups and election observers, with stakeholders calling for a peaceful and credible process.