By Olamilekan FAWAS
The South-West Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure free and fair conduct of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
The zonal Chairman of the party, Dr Eddy Olafeso, made the call in Lagos that it would be in the interest of democracy and popular will if the electoral body fulfilled its promise of a credible election.
Olafeso urged INEC to be an impartial umpire in the election and resist any attempt to stampede it into manipulating the election.
“We in the South West urge INEC to be neutral in the election and ensure that we have a free and fair election in Ekiti State on Saturday,” he said.
He urged other stakeholders, including security agents, to play their part in the credible conduct of the election.
Olafeso said the party was disturbed over what he called the manhandling of Gov. Ayodele Fayose by the police on Wednesday.
He said the development was an affront to democracy and an attempt to create tension in the state.
Olafeso said the excuse given by the police that it dispersed the PDP rally with teargass was not tenable.
“We are beleaguered by the incident yesterday in which Governor Fayose was manhandled by the police. This was an attack on the freedom of the people and a clear attempt to intimidate our party.
“Of course, we are not going to be intimidated; we are going to resist attempts to stop us from winning on Saturday.
“Those who are manipulating the police to fight us know we will win in a free and fair election, that is why they are doing what they are doing,” he said.
Olafeso urged Ekiti not to be disturbed by the incident, urging them to go all out for PDP on Saturday.
On the deployment of 30,000 security agents for the election, he said there was nothing wrong with personnel if it was security.
He, however, said once security personnel began to interfere with the electoral process, then it was wrong.
On the coalition formed by the PDP and other opposition parties, Olafeso said it was formed to salvage the country.
