The controversial referendum embarked
upon by Governor Kayode Fayemi’s
administration for the creation of additional
18 Local Council Development Areas was
marred yesterday with low turnout by the
communities that participated, while others
boycotted the exercise completely.
In Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, apathy
to the referendum organised by the Ekiti
State Independent Electoral Commission
(EKSIEC) was evident, just as only a few
people came out in Ikere-Ekiti, another
major town in the state.
EKSIEC Chairman, Mrs Cecilia Adelusi,
confirmed that there was no voting in Ilasa,
Osi and Igbole, as the people blocked the
roads and prevented the exercise from
holding.
In Ado-Ekiti, at Ward 11, where at least
people from 15 polling units were expected
to vote, only 118 people came out; just as
only 66 people came out for the exercise at
St. George’s Primary School. A Supervisor
at St. Thomas Primary School, Irona, Ado-
Ekiti, Mr. Akinluyi Alabi, told newsmen who
witnessed the exercise that it was peaceful.
The Ekiti SIEC boss, said her attempt to
enter Osi and Igbole to monitor the exercise
was aborted by the people who did not
allow her vehicle to enter the towns.
Apart from the areas mentioned by the
SIEC boss, the exercise did not hold also in
Afao, Are, Iworoko in Irepodun/ Ifelodun
Local Government Area.
Also, the exercise did not hold in Ire (Oye
Local Government), Agbado in Gboyin Local
Government Area among others. In Ijero,
the traditional ruler, Oba Adebayo Adewole,
had to make public announcement that the
people were not pleased with the
government’s action, saying his people
demanded for Ijero North and South Local
Governments. The same scenario played
out in Erinmope, where the people said they
were opposed to the exercise due to the
location of the council headquarters in
Igogo-Ekiti. However, the exercise
recorded an appreciable turnout of people in
Iyin and Igbemo both in Irepodun/ Ifelodun
Local Government Area.
In Ikere-Ekiti, the Commissioner for
Integration, who is also a chieftain of the
All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr.
Funminiyi Afuye, said the issue was beyond
politics. According to him, the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), that is opposed to
the referendum needed not to support it.
“Whoever is opposed to the referendum
should go out and test his popularity with
the people. The wishes of the people can
be expressed at any time and on any
subject. “This is the policy of the APC
government and we are implementing it to
the letter. We are still in government until
October 15 this year,” Afuye said.
Meanwhile, the PDP, in a statement by the
State Publicity Secretary, Pastor Kola
Oluwawole, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, blamed
the poor turnout of people on the insincerity
of the outgoing government. He noted that
most of the supposed beneficiary
communities knew ab-initio that the whole
process of creating the LCDAs was
shrouded in controversy as a result of the
contentious constitutional validity of the
exercise. The PDP spokesman added that
some also distanced themselves from the
exercise due to fear of molestation and
possible attacks by thugs who were
brought to Ekiti State by the leadership of
the APC to boost security for the EKSIEC
and attack members of any opposition
party or community.

igba yi laaro.