We will not compromise standard in Ekiti State, says REC

• Apology not enough, return Ekiti looted funds, Olusola tells Fayemi
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Prof. Abdul-Ganiyu Olayinka Raji, has promised not to compromise standards in the upcoming governorship poll in Ekiti State.

He gave the pledge at a Town Hall meeting organised by Democracy Vanguard, a civil society organisation on good governance and democracy.

The Public Relations Officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr. Taiwo Gbadegesin represented the REC.

He said the commission is “committed to conducting a free, fair and credible election for sustainable democracy in Ekiti State.”

He identified poverty, voter apathy, illiteracy and greed, as well as the thirst for power at all cost and corruption as hindrances to free, fair and credible elections.

Raji recommended “erring officials and security operatives found wanting on election duties should be severely punished according to the dictates of the law.

He urged other civil society groups in the state to tow the path of Democracy Vanguard in sensitising the electorate.

A lecturer of Democratic Studies and Public Policy Dr. Dare Ayeni, represented by a public policy analyst, Demola Olarewaju, and an official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Mr. Yusuff Odunayo, were the other discussants at the meeting.

The National Coordinator of the group, Adeola Soetan, and state coordinator, Mrs. Yetunde Adeoluwa also spoke at the meeting.

Meanwhile, the campaign group of the standard bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation (KOCO), has charged the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi to be accountable.

According to the group, Fayemi must go beyond seeking forgiveness from Ekiti people for his four years misrule.

The members asked him to return the billions of naira that he looted from the states treasury, especially the N4.9 billion that a probe panel had indicted him of.

Fayemi, had in his acceptance speech after clinching the APC ticket, apologised to the people “for all the errors of omission, or commission we made during our first term as governor, between 2010 and 2014.”

KOCO said in a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Lere Olayinka, that it was good that Fayemi had realised that he did not do well when he was governor.

He added: “After apologising, restitution should follow.”