Ekiti Election: INEC reacts to Olusola-Eleka’s decision to head for court

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dared Prof.
Kolapo Olusola-Eleka, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate in
last Saturday's Ekiti governorship election, to challenge the result
in court.

All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Kayode Fayemi, won the election.

However, Olusola-Eleka's boss, Governor Ayodele Fayose, faulted the
outcome of the poll and described Fayiemi's victory as temporary,
adding that it would be upturned at the tribunal.

INEC has now insisted that the result of the election was a reflection
of the will of the people.

The agency's Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wole
Osaze-Uzzi, said: "INEC welcomes the decision of Prof. Eleka to go to
the tribunal on the outcome of the governorship election. That is the
proper thing to do.

"Legal process is a better resort than making inciting statements and
engaging in media trial. We welcome judicial intervention on disputes
arising from the election. Just like in the case of Edo State, it is
left to Eleka to prove his case before the tribunal."

Osaze-Uzzi rated the outcome of the election as "good and a fair
reflection of the will of the people of Ekiti State. Even
international and local observers rated the conduct of the poll as
good.

"We have been receiving preliminary reports from the accredited Civil
Society Organisations (CSOs). Most of those in the so-called Coalition
of Civil Society Groups were not accredited for the poll by INEC.

"The materials and logistics were on spot and accreditation of voters
started as and when due in more than 92 per cent of the polling
units."