Ekiti Decides 2026: Review Of Security Situation Across Three Senatorial Districts

[00:00:00]Okay, it's still a kitty decide and things are happening there from what we hear some places election is concluded and they have done the counting and so on and but so you had the details of some of the things that happened.

[00:00:17]>> Yes, indeed at the moment updates that we have from the INEC election results viewing portal that is iRev 18% of the results have already been uploaded and in polling units across the state we have sorting and collation ongoing and in some not so many places voting is still on for you know, maybe that polling unit where they had about 755 registered voters and so of course we will be bringing you updates. This is what it looks like on the screen there.

[00:00:50]That's the iRev that's the INEC iRev portal where these results are being uploaded but you know that eventually these results are going from the polling unit to the ward collection centers. From there they're going to the local government collection centers and straight to the state collection center where all of the collection would be done and the winner announced in this election.

[00:01:14]13 candidates are participating in this election. 13 political parties and there are 16 local government areas in Ekiti state fondly called the land of knowledge, the land of honor there's just a whole lot said about >> You know, we have all sorts of nicknames for our states now right now. You know, the doctor some results have been uploaded on the iRev and we've seen it, you know, the election happened today collation happened today it's been uploaded to the iRev today. Put it side by side what happened in the last election. What's your take?

[00:01:48]>> Okay, thank you. I I I think on that on that note it will be an improvement and it is expected actually.

[00:01:55]That is the rule as well. After counting, you ought to actually upload right [clears throat] from the the unit where votes were counted. So, they That means, you know, uh try to comply with the the law. That is what that suggests. Now, but we equally want to see a scenario where we all should be able to do everything the same day. There are bigger nations or bigger countries actually conduct election the same day. You know, and and they even do election across all levels and results coming.

[00:02:30]How long does it take India to conduct their election?

[00:02:32]>> Mhm.

[00:02:32]>> So, Nigeria is not up to half of India.

[00:02:35]Why is it taking us so Election has gone beyond that manual level where >> but taking into consideration what what what we had in the past.

[00:02:43]>> this is even a governorship election and off-cycle election in one state. And we are talking of a population of registered voters, 1.05 thereabout.

[00:02:52]Those who have come out to vote are not 200,000.

[00:02:55]>> I Are you Are you Are you sure? Are you sure?

[00:02:58]We don't have [laughter] the total votes yet.

[00:03:00]>> As you mentioned, it's only 18% of the results that have been uploaded.

[00:03:03]>> Exactly. That is I'm I'm I'm looking at the the reports we've got earlier concerning some polling units, looking at the number of people who registered and those who came out to vote. And that this is almost goes round.

[00:03:16]Assuming we even have the 1.05 million as in total number. And let's even assume that all of them actually voted. What does it take?

[00:03:25]Is this something that you take a week?

[00:03:27]So, yeah, it's an improvement, but I expect that all should be like that.

[00:03:30]Everything should come up in that manner. Let the votes come in. Let's get the results today. Let's know There's no point going to bed, waiting, and keeping awake in the name in the name of who is the winner. Let's get the results. And let it be clear. Let everybody go his way.

[00:03:45]>> But you're assuming, Dr. Kayode, that when the election is to on, the election has to has to happen. But of course, we understand perhaps Bivas didn't function at first and then later it came out. So perhaps that could cause a delay in some places. But in cases where it's working and people on the queue, even after 2:30, they are expected to still be able to vote regardless of the time that eventually it gets to their turn and that's what we expect to happen. And that might delay the process. What do you say?

[00:04:16]>> I've done collation of election results in different places.

[00:04:21]All right, I've done it. Even in that has the largest population, I've done it there. I've done it in the solar. So these are I say these are possibilities. It's just the attitude that matters. They have these are things that can be done.

[00:04:33]>> So do you think INEC can do all of that between now and 2027 perhaps?

[00:04:39]>> Why shouldn't INEC do it? They should.

[00:04:43]It should be done. This idea of waiting for days to submit results is not the best. We can If you get the right people because the challenge we have sometimes is that the results that come from the polling units create problem for the one who will be collecting at the ward level, from there to the local government and all of that. Get the right persons.

[00:05:02]Give them the job and they'll deliver.

[00:05:05]We have enough manpower to do that.

[00:05:07]>> When you talk about >> The right person is not written in their forehead.

[00:05:11]>> [laughter] >> There are tests for that.

[00:05:14]>> We know that historically INEC has relied on youth core members because they are believed to be neutral.

[00:05:21]>> Neutral.

[00:05:21]>> Because they are agents of government as it were. Neutral and they're educated.

[00:05:26]>> Neutrality that they are educated is not enough.

[00:05:28]>> Okay.

[00:05:29]>> We are talking these are matters of numerous figures. Not everybody is is interested in figures.

[00:05:35]>> So how do you want to get these >> I mean we we these are they have disciplines. I recall that when I register as a copper, I my discipline was stated. My interest and all of that.

[00:05:46]You will show who you are.

[00:05:47]>> But I I I don't think it's only those whose courses or disciplines uh >> No, no, no, not necessarily. That's why I said the interest of the person should be taken. All right? You you you we are usually tested. You don't just come in and say, "Okay, you are the collection officer or you are People should they should go through the right process of trying to sieve, you know, those who can actually do the job.

[00:06:10]You get it done. Right from the point of training, you will be able to tell whether this person actually add up figures. I I I had to deal with a situation in one of those elections that we we conducted where even the the person who brought it could not even I mean, it was a challenge.

[00:06:26]>> [laughter] >> And that is what will keep the man who is collecting at the other end there throughout. So, the problem is usually from the unit. Once you get it right there, the whole thing goes smoothly.

[00:06:36]>> Uh Dr. >> Okay, what I was trying to actually achieve uh Mr. Logue is how would you rate INEC? You know, because the sieve we're we're having we're having things done faster and better in this particular election. So, and maybe in 1 minute, just quickly rate INEC for us.

[00:06:55]>> It's it's awesome. And let me say this, as the weather is a will, there is a way.

[00:07:01]Right from Atlantic City here in Nigeria, we've connected with someone in Ikere and someone in Ekiti.

[00:07:09]That's technology.

[00:07:11]So, if we want it done, we can do it. And I That's why some of us are saying, "Do not give INEC the discretions you've given them.

[00:07:21]Make it mandatory." Section 4 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 as amended says that the National Assembly is mandated to make laws for the peace, orderly ness, and good government in Nigeria. It's like saying I'm flying to New York City now, and you are telling the pilot, "Don't worry, if the gear doesn't engage, just watch and see See will happen." No.

[00:07:41]That girl was engaged.

[00:07:43]We're going to Abuja one morning. We were delayed in the aircraft for about 1 and 1/2 hours because everything must synchronize before engaging the sky. So, >> Yeah, everything must synchronize actually.

[00:08:00]>> [laughter] >> So, if we want it done excellently, yes, it's possible. It's possible.

[00:08:07]>> So, we're holding on to that. Now, on the security situation in Ekiti State, the police monitoring team uh visited Ilawe to get on the ground situation following reports of pandemonium in one of the units in the town.

[00:08:23]>> We are here at Ilawe at the particular ward where a report came in that there was an incident. And just as we can see or we can all see, we see that votings are ongoing peacefully. You know, it is not unusual.

[00:08:43]It is not unusual to have one or two um arguments during uh election. It is not unusual, but the most important thing is that as long as the um arguments did not disrupt the voting process, then I think everything can be said to be fine. And just as we are seeing, despite the arguments that occur between um supporters of different candidates, we can all see that voting is still ongoing, and that argument has not disrupted the voting process. Immediately we I got here, I had um wordings with the um police officers on ground just to confirm the situation report I received before heading here and they confirmed to me that everything has been brought under control which we are seeing. Then regarding police officers from other polling units across all the local government the reports I've been receiving is that the accreditation and voting are ongoing peacefully and there are no serious incidents. This is unprecedented and um we can link this high voter turnout to the high level of confidence that voters have expressed over security arrangement that has been put in place.

[00:10:26]The fracas started from that football match and it has nothing to do with politics or the election. And as we speak, that same community in Isan Ekiti, if I'm right, voting is ongoing as we speak in that community.

[00:10:48]>> CP Abayomi Shogunle there briefing the press on the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election. Our reporters are here, Dare Adebisa is standing by now.

[00:10:58]Saheed, where exactly are you and what updates do you have for us on the Ilawe incident and are there other reports that the police had to attend to in the course of this election?

[00:11:15]>> Thank you very much, Abayomi, for that interesting conversation we are having.

[00:11:28]>> Saheed, it's a bit difficult [laughter] Uh Saheed, it's a bit difficult.

[00:11:34]We will come back to you. I suspect that the weather in equity is beginning to you know to act funny but we hope that we are able to get back to you and we can have that conversation because I hear that even with the police team even before the election so there's a whole lot that he would be able to share with us. But it's good to hear the commissioner of police talk about the fact that the incident in law way was properly managed and that voting you know activities actually continues regardless of that pandemonium that was reported earlier in the But there was another matter that was mentioned that another wage person who was learning to drive actually hit a police vehicle.

[00:12:14]>> [laughter] >> That is yet another matter Dr. Carey.

[00:12:19]>> [laughter] >> Okay, you see the challenge now you've created an enabling environment for learners to start driving.

[00:12:30]>> [laughter] >> Because they are taking advantage of the roads that were empty.

[00:12:35]All right, [laughter] okay, let's use today to see how we can perfect our driving skills. Otherwise if it were to be on a normal busy day >> And that's the video Dr. [laughter] Carey. That's the video. That's the video.

[00:12:45]So we had to blur the face because that person is under age.

[00:12:48]>> But but but that was quite you know terrible that an under age person will be doing this kind of a thing at a time like this where people are gathered in different places to cast their votes.

[00:13:01]>> Dr. why are you talking like this? You were a boy. You you did some things like this too.

[00:13:05]>> Exactly.

[00:13:06]Exactly. We look at that person. I I told you that [laughter] the issue of no movement and all of that have created a >> Yeah.

[00:13:13]>> If there were to be legal you see people playing football on the road. So I think that's what they took advantage of. But it was a bad idea too.

[00:13:19]>> Okay.

[00:13:19]>> Because to the extent that he has to now you know run into people it was the police for that matter.

[00:13:25]>> The police.

[00:13:26]>> I mean what what a place to end it.

[00:13:28]>> [laughter] >> When when when that story came out, I I had I had a full laugh because it's like I imagine a situation where the guy pushed the car out of the compound and decided to go on a joyride and he ended up hitting a police car. So, that's the end of his adventure. Okay, let us look at uh uh this thing that has been going through my mind, Mr. Logo.

[00:13:54]It's difficult for you to take the outcome of an off-cycle election to um rate the umpire.

[00:14:04]But, we've had how many off-cycle elections so far?

[00:14:08]And it's as if we are having very similar results as far as the umpire is concerned.

[00:14:16]Are you comfortable that we have an INEC that will give us a good general election based on what we've seen from the off-cycle elections?

[00:14:25]>> Which is expected that we should. When you talk of the fact that INEC is created basically for some assignment, one of which is the conduct of election.

[00:14:38]And so, that is why, for instance, INEC does not directly handle logistics because it won't be fair for INEC that conducts election for 4 years, for instance, to now have a pool of vehicles to deliver materials. So, they contract that out. And there should be a template that you just work with.

[00:14:59]I tell them in my church around April that where is your Christmas carol plan?

[00:15:08]Plan. What do you implement in last December?

[00:15:11]>> Mhm.

[00:15:11]>> Dr. Logo, please, I want to quickly place you on hold. We'll continue from there, but we have Saheed now.

[00:15:16]>> [clears throat] >> So, let's try to get to that conversation. Saheed, you were giving us updates on uh the Ilawe pandemonium and also other matters that the police have [clears throat] had to respond to in Ekiti State today.

[00:15:30]>> Yes, as I was saying I mentioned earlier that I'm back where the journey started for me today and that's at the police headquarters along old Iyin Road. This was where we rode out from this morning for the monitoring exercise of the poll across the state. And of course um starting from Ado Ekiti we went to some polling units here in Ado Ekiti and interestingly uh the conversation we were having earlier about the underage uh driver was the second part of our our poll for us at the polling unit where we stopped. That was where the incident happened. Everyone was surprised. The CP was close to where the election was uh the election was taking place speaking with the people, just to advise calm addressing the election officials, asking whether there are no issues speaking to all the other officials I was there. We had the the the sound blast. And of course that was when everybody turned and we discovered that the man piloting that vehicle does not have to be a driver, really.

[00:16:35]Because we have to blow the the face. If everyone should see that face you would know that this is an underage. And to also think that we have adults inside that vehicle it's not as though he's testing or drive testing with a lever I mean or something. He was actually conveying them to a location. So you know something like that happened and the CPO ordered that that vehicle should be taken to the nearest police station. And I know that he's he's answering some questions at this time. From Ado Ekiti we moved uh to different parts of the state. We had a stop at Iyin uh Ekiti.

[00:17:10]From there we moved to Igede Ekiti. It was at Igede Ekiti that we got the news that there was pandemonium at Ilawe and immediately I informed the city of what our reporters gathered from Ilawe.

[00:17:24]He said we are heading straight to that particular location and we got there to Ilawe at the time of arrival there all was calm. The officers on ground resolved. I spoke with the the officer leading the team at that particular polling unit where the Action Democratic Congress candidate was uh to exercise his franchise and also spoke to the candidate asking how the situation started, what were the reasons and all of that. And of course again reassured the people that all will be well and all will end well. So, voting was in progress at the point where we got there. So, from Ilawe to we had what I will call a tour of the somewhat of the length and breadth of Ekiti State cuz we moved through the southern senatorial district and the central senatorial district. We got to towns like Ikogosi, Erijiyan, Aramoko, Okioro. We also got to Temidire Ekiti, Ijero Ekiti, you know, all of the towns along the way were just uh looking at the situation, monitoring the exercise, the conduct of officers, particularly of the police force and it was all good in all of the places we went to and the people also confirmed that the officers uh behaved professionally and of course commended the peaceful atmosphere which this election held.

[00:18:48]>> Mhm.

[00:18:48]All right. I'm very interested in Ikere Ekiti because of uh you know, uh the fact that an opposition candidate is from there and the deputy governor is from there.

[00:18:59]Any security concerns? Did you hear anything at emanating from there concerning security or pandemonium or anything?

[00:19:11]>> No, we we've not gotten any report from a character as whether there is a problem with them in that particular location. But while we left the headquarters this morning for the southern senatorial district and the central senatorial district, I also saw a team led by the deputy inspector general of police, the IG for quality, also rolled out. And I also understand that they will be monitoring situation in the in Ekiti Yes. Yes, in the towards senatorial district. So, that falls under Ekiti, Bob. But until now, we've not gotten any information as to whether there is a breakdown of law and order or not. But I know Solomon Adigun also brought updates speaking about the fact that voting is also still ongoing in some parts of the of the area, sorting, and all of that. So, we've not had any issue as as that, even though it's regarded as a battleground for the parties contesting this election, looking at the fact that we have a candidate, a major opposition candidate, in that particular area. But we've not had anything as to whether there is a breakdown of security, of law, and all of that in that area.

[00:20:23]>> All right. And so, he >> it will go smoothly.

[00:20:25]>> Yes, I think it will go smoothly. That's the expectation. I would like to bring up the issue of restriction on movement with you because it was the police that announced that before the election started. What are they saying about it because behind you also, I saw a bike move by and I was just wondering, that's the police headquarters. Has anything been said about that what time is it meant to be lifted?

[00:20:52]>> I think the peaceful atmosphere with this election is being conducted has allowed for a lot of things to happen.

[00:20:59]And that's part of why you still see vehicles moving. Even though while we journeyed through different parts of the southern and central senatorial district. Those are the towns and the villages along the way. You still see lots of movement. I can see it here in the street.

[00:21:15]I have that preponderance of vehicles moving.

[00:21:18]Um security agencies are not um in a checkpoint of some sort trying to stop vehicles from moving and all of that. So, we still have vehicles moving and they've not said anything uh because I believe uh they have gotten information and the intelligence is it's all clear and um people are just going about their normal activities. Some who have resumed like I confirmed that some shops are back open. In some of the towns that we went to, you see uh the display of wares.

[00:21:50]There are some sitting in their shops and things are just going as smooth as um as we've reported earlier. So, about the restriction, not of them. This is uh See, it has been moving but according to any the orders and just passing through the police headquarters in them.

[00:22:12]>> All right, Saheed. We thank you very much for that update. A long day it's been for you, but thank you very much for