BEVERLY HILLS, July 17, (THEWILL) – The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has counseled Prof. Kolapo Olusola, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the just concluded Ekiti gubernatorial election to head for the election tribunal if he is not satisfied with the results.
THEWILL recalls that Kayode Fayemi, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner and returned elected.
Displeased, Olusola berated the electoral body while his party rejected the results but INEC has insisted that the result of the election was a reflection of the will of the people.
The agency’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wole Osaze-Uzzi, said: “INEC welcomes the decision of Prof. Olusola to go to the tribunal on the outcome of the governorship election. That is the proper thing to do.
“Legal process is a better resort than making inciting statements and engaging in media trial. We welcome judicial intervention on disputes arising from the election. Just like in the case of Edo State, it is left to Eleka to prove his case before the tribunal.”
Osaze-Uzzi rated the outcome of the election as “good and a fair reflection of the will of the people of Ekiti State”. “Even international and local observers rated the conduct of the poll as good,” he said, adding:
“We have been receiving preliminary reports from the accredited Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). Most of those in the so-called Coalition of Civil Society Groups were not accredited for the poll by INEC.
“The materials and logistics were on spot and accreditation of voters started as and when due in more than 92 per cent of the polling units.”
Responding to a question, Osaze-Uzzi said: “INEC is yet to have a post-mortem session on the poll but we have received oral briefing from some of our National Commissioners and others on ground.
“Certainly, we will hold a post-mortem meeting when all officials are fully back.”
