Ekiti decides: PDP candidate Oluyede alleges voter intimidation, raises concerns over slow accreditation

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Ekiti State election, Dr Wole Oluyede, has alleged voter intimidation by security operatives and expressed concerns over delays in the accreditation and voting process at his polling unit.

Oluyede made the allegations shortly after casting his ballot at Polling Unit 006, Ward 03, Osagburu, Ikere-Ekiti, where he arrived with his wife, Kemi Oluyede. The PDP candidate voted at about 9:45 a.m.

Speaking after voting, Oluyede criticised the pace of the exercise, describing the accreditation process at his polling unit as slow and frustrating. He claimed that only a few voters had been accredited and allowed to cast their ballots several hours after voting commenced.

“People have been here for about one and a half hours, and only five people have voted in my polling unit. That is what they do all the time. So I am suspecting that there is something wrong with the INEC process,” he said.

The PDP flagbearer warned that the slow pace of voting could discourage participation and disenfranchise eligible voters, stressing that the situation posed a threat to the credibility of the electoral process.

“If they are voting five people per hour, that is sad. Something is wrong. You cannot disenfranchise these people. It is sad for democracy in Nigeria,” he added.

Oluyede also alleged that security personnel deployed to some polling areas were intimidating voters, claiming that the situation was particularly noticeable around the polling unit where the state’s Deputy Governor cast his vote.

“It is very unfortunate that all I can get here is an army of cameras, whereas down the road, where the Deputy Governor votes, there is an army of policemen there harassing people,” he alleged.

He further claimed that security operatives were using force against members of the public, adding that he had evidence to support his allegations.

“Go down there and see the army of policemen that are harassing people. They are using force. I have evidence of that, and I will show you when it is appropriate,” he said.

Despite his complaints about the conduct of the exercise, Oluyede expressed confidence that the election would be peaceful and maintained optimism about his party’s chances.

“Although I am still very confident that my people are going to stay here peacefully and we are still winning this election,” he said.