By Harry Awurumibe, in Ado Ekiti
Police patrol team on election duty on Saturday apprehended persons suspected to be engaging in vote buying and breach of the public peace at some Polling Units in some electoral wards in Igede area of Iyin, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area during the on-going Ekiti state Governorship Election.
Prompt News correspondent witnessed the arrest of a Party Agent identified only as Adelaja by Police team at Polling Unit Code 013 , Abe Compound, Ward C, Igede 1 in Iyin, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA during a raid on a nearby house where supporters of rival political parties were fighting over voters who were selling their votes.
Police were called in when the fracas was getting out of hand, although voting was going on smoothly in the above mentioned Polling Unit where Policemen without weapons were maintaining peace.
Meanwhile, a dissatisfied stakeholder and indigene of Igede, Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, Evangelist Gbenga Adekunle decried the spate of vote buying in the Ekiti election.
Speaking to journalists after voting at Community School B Oisiokin, Ward C in Igede 1, Igede,
Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, he said it was disheartening to observe that political parties are engaging in vote buying.
Said he: “I am deeply saddened that our politicians are still engaged in the sordid practice of vote buying. This is very bad. Those involved in the act should be prosecuted “.
Adekunle however praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the use of new technology Biomodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), saying that the machines have performed well for the time being.
