MANY residents of Ekiti State are set to cast their votes in the gubernatorial election which comes up on Saturday, June 18.
They are looking forward to the election with high expectations.
Speaking with The ICIR while going about her business at the Oki-Ikere market, a businesswoman, Arifayan Adebusola, said she would cast her vote with hopes of better governance in the state.
READ ALSO:
Full list of 16 candidates jostling for governorship seat in Ekiti
Youths extort motorists in Ekiti-East ahead of guber poll
Live Update: Ekiti Election 2022
Ekiti guber poll: Oni urges INEC to protect election integrity
“I worked for eleven years at the Ekiti State House of Assembly, but we were issued sack letters two years ago. I am now into business, but I am going to vote for the man of my choice. I believe he will treat civil servants better,” she said.
Another resident, Bukola Ogundare, told The ICIR that she would vote for her preferred candidate based on previous performances.
Aged citizens also expressed readiness to exercise their electoral rights.
For retired military officer Oroolu Benson, the promises made by his preferred candidate are enough reason to vote during the coming elections.
“I believe he will make a better governor due to his promises. This man will be a change, by God’s power,” he said.
Another resident in his 70s, Esan Sunday, told The ICIR that the previous governments had underperformed, and there was a need for change.
“Only God knows the best candidate, but we pray for a good governor. We have tested two parties from time immemorial. The way they have handled governance is appalling and irritating at times,” he said.
Most residents also kicked against vote-buying, describing it as trading their rights.
A prospective voter, Isah Baba, noted that the country’s poverty level fueled vote-buying.
“I will not sell my vote, but it will be very difficult to eradicate vote buying in Nigeria for now, because people are hungry and if they see where they will not be arrested, they will willingly sell their votes,” he said.
However, voting is ungodly for a few others, like a woman in her 50s who identified herself as Prophetess Sade.
“I don’t believe in this system. Democracy is not our language. The meaning of democracy is we are all crazy. If we are not crazy, why do people kill others just to attain a position of power?” she asked.
For the prophetess, the correct method of electing leaders involved praying to God to choose a leader.
“If we want God to give us the right rulers, the nation should stand before the Lord and pray. Our pastors do not have the knowledge of God. If they did, they should have led the nation out of this predicament. I will never vote and I will never have a voters’ card,” she said.
Other relevant institutions have also been involved in last-minute preparations.
Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ekiti State Police Command Sunday Abutu told The ICIR on Friday that security agents were already headed to their duty posts.
“Officers are already making their way to the areas where they have been posted,” he said.
Election materials had also been distributed on Thursday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the 16 Local Government Areas within the state.
The materials were distributed in the presence of journalists, security officials and party agents, who expressed satisfaction with INEC’s conduct, so far.
Ijeoma Opara is a journalist with The ICIR. Reach her via [email protected] or @ije_le on Twitter.