Ekiti APC Primary: Voting Commences, Security Chiefs Guard Ballot Boxes

By Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

Voting has commenced in Saturday’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primary in Ekiti State.

Delagates are expected to elect a governorship candidate from the 32 aspirants that declared interest in the election slated for July.

To prevent ballot snatching, heads of security agencies in the state are saddled with the responsibility of guarding the boxes. The ballot boxes are located right beside their seats.

The Chairman of the APC governorship primary and Nasarawa State governor, Umary Tanko Al-Makura, said voting would commence with

the local governments in the Ekiti South Senatorial District.

The district comprises: Ekiti East, Emure, Gbonyin, Ekiti South West, Ikere and Ise/Orun local governments.

After these local governments, it will be the turn of Ekiti North and Central districts respectively.

Initially, the aspirants were 33 until Special Adviser to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, stepped down, alleging compromise on the part of Chief John Oyegun-led National Working Committee (NWC).

The election was botched last weekend following violent protest by some agents that some security men and agent of a particular

aspirant were compromising the integrity of the poll.

The security for today’s election was tight, as combined forces of the Department of State Services (DSS), police and Nigerian Security and Nigeria Civil Defence Corps cordoned off the roads leading to the Damlek Event Centre located along Afao Road, venue of the exercise.

Those guarding the boxes include: State Director of DSS, Mrs. Promise

Ihenacho, Police Commissioner, Mr Bello Ahmed, State Commandant of

NSCDC, Mr. Donatus Ikemefuna, among others.

There was diversion of the road leading to Oke Ila-Afao Road. Security agencies mounted about six checkpoints where aspirants,

delegates and other participants were thoroughly frisked before being allowed into the venue.

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