The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Dr. Wole Oluyede, has expressed dissatisfaction with the conduct of the election process, alleging voter intimidation and operational lapses at his polling unit in Ikere-Ekiti.
Oluyede made the allegations shortly after casting his vote at Osaguru Hall, Polling Unit 6, Ward 3, where he said the accreditation and voting process was moving at an unacceptably slow pace.
According to the PDP candidate, only a small number of voters had been accredited and allowed to vote more than an hour after polling commenced, raising concerns about the efficiency of the electoral process.
He also accused some security personnel deployed to the area of intimidating voters, alleging that certain operatives were using unofficial vehicles while carrying out their duties. Oluyede claimed he had gathered evidence of the incidents and would make it public at an appropriate time.
The PDP flag bearer contrasted the security presence at his polling unit with that of another voting location in the area, describing what he said was a heavy deployment of security personnel elsewhere.
Oluyede further questioned the performance of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), alleging that delays in resolving technical issues were affecting voter participation.
He stated that election officials had reportedly been waiting for technical support for an extended period, warning that prolonged delays could disenfranchise eligible voters and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
“The process is not encouraging. People have been waiting for over an hour, yet only a few voters have been able to cast their ballots,” he said.
The candidate urged electoral authorities to address the challenges promptly to ensure that voters are able to exercise their democratic rights without hindrance.
