* Obas say ‘no’ to vote buying
By Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti
The United States Government has said the whole world is interested and will monitor the July 14 governorship election in Ekiti State and ensure that rules are not circumvented in the poll.
The Consul General in Nigeria, Mr. John Bray, dropped the hint during a meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers held at the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.
He said there won’t be compromise on the need to conduct a free, fair and credible election in a peaceful atmosphere that would be in line with global best practices.
Bray promised that the US was committed to peace before, during and after the election.
“We are on the side of the people. We are here to support free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
“The eyes of the world will be on Ekiti on July 14. We would be here and we won’t let you down,” he said.
The Chairman of the council and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, had asked the US to prevent vote buying during the July 14governorship poll in the state.
Oba Ademolaju urged US to bring observers from all over the world to ensure that each vote counted in the election.
The monarch dropped the hint that the people are resolute to resist manipulation in whatever form, saying the governorship poll would be a pointer to what is to come in the 2019 general election.
He said: “We want you to use your good office to bring monitors all over polling units.
“Security agencies must be above board during and after the elections.
“We want everybody to be carried along. We want reputable groups as monitors present at polling units not people that will just be moving about.”
Another prominent Oba, Oba Adejugbe, said the people would be happy if the most popular candidate won the election.
“We want peace and vote to count. If the most popular candidate won at the end of the day, nobody would raise a voice.
“We are concerned about safety in our domain, we don’t want Ekiti to be a battle ground. We want the choice of the people to emerge as governor in the election,” he said.
