By Michael Oche
Election observer group, the Centre for Transparency Advocacy, CTA, has identified various violence-prone areas in Ekiti state, ahead of the Saturday governorship election in the state.
The group said it is concerned that the election is taking place amid a perilous security climate.
The flashpoint identified by the group includes, Ido/osi, Itapaji, Ijigbo, Odo Ado and Okeiyinmi.
Others are Atikankan, Ajilosun, Oye Ikole Efon, Old garage, Ikere and Ado-Ekiti.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Faith Nwadishi, the CTA urged security agencies to provide guarantees and make necessary measures for the protection of voters prior to and following elections.
The CTA also called on political actors to ensure that their acts and statements do not incite violence or unduly inflame the political climate.
She said, “INEC should ensure that its workers are fully trained on the operation of the BVAS machines and the election guidelines to guarantee a free, fair, and credible governorship election, that parents must not allow their children to be used as political thugs to disrupt the peaceful conduct of elections.”
Nwadishi urged voters to turn out in large numbers to exercise their democratic rights by voting for their preferred candidates and avoiding vote-buying.
She disclosed that her organisation will be deploying 50 observers to the sixteen Local Government Areas of Ekiti State, saying that the observers will receive training on the Electoral Act of 2022, election observation, and INEC Election Guidelines.
