The Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has commended the peaceful conduct of the state local government elections.
The governor cast his vote at Ward 6, Unit 003 Okelele Street, Ikogosi-Ekiti around 11:40 am and praised the State Independent Electoral Commission for conducting a smooth and peaceful electoral process.
According to a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Olayinka Oyebode, the governor expressed gratitude to the electorate for their peaceful conduct, despite the low voter turnout across the LGAs and LCDAs.
The election featured eight political parties contending for chairmanship positions and 14 parties presenting candidates for councillor seats.
Speaking to journalists after voting, the governor was pleased that grassroots communities were able to freely elect their representatives for local governments and the 177 wards without encountering fear, threats, or any form of crisis.
Oyebanji further emphasized the strategic importance of local government elections, highlighting their role in delivering the benefits of democracy to grassroots levels. He underscored local governments as essential vehicles for grassroots political engagement, social development, and economic and infrastructural progress.
While commending SIEC and the security agencies in the state for the peaceful conduct of the election, Oyebanji said, “I am happy that as a government we are doing this because local government election is the most critical arm of government concerning the delivery government policies at the grassroots level, and it is 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.”
“The turnout is a bit low, that tells me that we need to do more on voter education and sensitization. Local government elections are very critical to the survival of any democracy, because it is the closest to the people,” he added.