The Chairman of the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), Retired Justice Cornelius Akintayo, has urged political parties and their candidates to embrace issue-based campaigns and avoid inflammatory statements and activities capable of causing violence ahead of the December 12 local government election.
Akintayo gave the charge during a stakeholders’ meeting held at Sanni Abacha Hall, Old Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, attended by representatives of political parties, security agencies, religious organisations, transport operators and other critical stakeholders.
He described the meeting as an important platform for strengthening collaboration and developing strategies to ensure a peaceful, free, fair and credible election devoid of rigging, violence and corruption. The EKSIEC chairman explained that the commission had made significant progress in its preparations, having released the election timetable and guidelines, distributed nomination forms, screened candidates submitted by political parties and published the list of qualified and disqualified candidates.
He disclosed that 10 political parties obtained nomination forms for the election, adding that candidates who were disqualified had been given the opportunity to present their complaints to the commission for consideration.
With the electoral process now at the campaign stage, Akintayo urged political parties to concentrate on presenting their manifestoes, programmes and development plans to the electorate rather than engaging in unnecessary confrontations.
He reaffirmed the commission’s neutrality, stressing that EKSIEC was committed to providing a level playing field for all participating political parties and would not support any particular candidate or political platform.
According to him, peaceful elections begin with peaceful campaigns, warning that hostility, bitterness and inflammatory statements could create tension and result in the destruction of lives and property.
He also disclosed that the commission had commenced sensitisation programmes across the local government areas through engagements with council chairmen, councillors and other stakeholders, as well as radio programmes aimed at educating residents on the electoral process.
Akintayo said the stakeholders’ meeting was equally intended to strengthen security arrangements for every stage of the election, including the distribution of electoral materials, voting, collation and announcement of results.
He emphasised the importance of local government administration as the closest tier of government to the people, describing it as the foundation of democratic governance and a critical platform for addressing grassroots challenges. He encouraged residents to appreciate the importance of local government elections and participate actively in the December 12 exercise.
The EKSIEC chairman also appreciated stakeholders who attended the meeting despite not receiving formal invitation letters, describing their presence as evidence of their commitment to democratic development.
Speaking at the meeting, the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Ekiti State Police Command, ACP Matthew Sunday, who represented the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, assured residents of adequate security before, during and after the election.
Sunday said the command had intensified consultations with relevant stakeholders, including local government officials and other groups, to strengthen collaboration and address potential security threats ahead of the exercise.
He disclosed that the Commissioner of Police had convened several meetings to discuss strategies for maintaining law and order during the forthcoming election.
He urged political parties, candidates and residents to comply with established electoral rules and discharge their responsibilities peacefully, warning that non-compliance could create avoidable security challenges.
The police officer noted that Ekiti had maintained a commendable record of peace and security, adding that the state had recently been recognised among the most peaceful police commands in the country. He expressed confidence that sustained cooperation among political parties, security agencies, traditional institutions, religious leaders and residents would guarantee a peaceful and successful local government election.
Both Akintayo and Sunday called on all stakeholders to demonstrate collective responsibility and commitment to ensuring that the December 12 election was credible, peaceful and acceptable to all participants.