The United States has said the world is looking forward to the July 14 Ekiti governorship election.
The Consul General, Mr. John Bray, spoke during a meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers held in the palace of Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe.
He was reacting to the request of the council for a free, fair and credible election in a peaceful atmosphere made by the monarchs.
Council Chairman and Oloye of Oye-Ekiti, Oba Oluwole Ademolaju, had asked the US to prevent vote-buying during the July 14 governorship poll in the state.
He said, “We want you to use your good office to bring monitors all over the polling units.
“Security agencies must be above board during and after the elections.
“We want everybody to be carried along. We want reputable groups as monitors present at polling units, not people that will just be moving about.”
Also speaking, Oba Adejugbe stated that the people would be happy if the most popular candidate won the election.
He said, “We want peace and vote to count. If the most popular candidate won at the end of the day, nobody would raise a voice.”
The Ogoga of Ikere-Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Alagbado, warned against the experience of the 1983 election violence where many houses were burnt in the old Ondo State.
He said, “We are concerned about safety in our domain; we don’t want Ekiti to be a battleground. We want the choice of the people to emerge as governor in the election.”
Responding, Bray promised that the US was committed to peace before, during and after the election.
He said, “We are on the side of the people. We are here to support free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
“The eyes of the world will be on Ekiti on July 14. We would be here and we won’t let you down.”
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