Ekiti
State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji on Saturday voted at his Ikogosi country
home in the first local government council election conducted by his
administration.
The
Governor who voted at his Ward 6, Unit 003 Okelele Street, Ikogosi-Ekiti around
11.40am, commended the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) for a
seamless and peaceful electoral process. He also tanked Ekiti electorate for
the peaceful conduct in the election which took place in all the 16 local
Government Areas (LGAs) and 22 Local Development Council Areas (LCDAs)
Speaking
with journalists shortly after casting his vote, the Governor expressed delight
that people at the grassroots were able to choose their representatives at
local government and the 177 wards without fear or threat or any form of
crisis.
Governor
Oyebanji described local government election as strategic and fundamental to
the delivery of dividends of democracy to the grassroots.
The
Governor who scored the current local government administration in many of the
council areas in the state high in the areas of infrastructure development,
maintained that local governments are viable instruments of grassroots
political participation, socialization, economic and infrastructure
development.
While
commending the State Independent Electoral Commission and the security agencies
in the state for the peaceful conduct of the election, the Governor said
government would continue to prioritize voters’ education and sensitization
across the state in order to foster a more robust democratic process and
participation.
“I
am happy that as government we are doing this, because local government
election is the most critical arm of government with respect to delivering
government policies at the grassroots level and it is very important to
democratise government at this level because it is the closest to the people
and the beauty of democracy is to have representatives at that level being
elected by the people and am happy that we have done this in Ekiti State.
“I
am also happy because the people on their own have the opportunity to choose
their representatives at local government level and at the ward level. So far
so good, the turnout is a bit low and that tells us we need to do more on
voters’ education and sensitization.” The Governor asserted.
A
remarkable development in the Saturday local government election is the
unprecedented huge number of female candidates vying for various positions.
This include seven female candidates for the chairmanship; 16 candidates for
the Vice Chairmanship position and 33 candidates for the councillorship
position.
The
development, according to Governor Oyebanji, is not only heart-warming, but
speaks to the fact democracy is taking a firm root in Ekiti State.
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