Ekiti Election : Why did Goliath fall ? || By Olamiposi Ishola

NO doubt, the Ekiti governorship election has come and gone!

What remains now for any candidate who is not satisfy with the emergence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi is to challenge the victory at the tribunal.

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Of course, any candidate (s) or political parties have the right to challenge the victory at the court of law, from Tribunal to Appeal and Supreme which is the Apex as far as election is concerned.

The victory of former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi at the poll came to some people as a rude shock, but to watchers of Nigeria’s political scene and political analysts, ‘its a well written script with many active players’.

What did you expect from a sitting Governor, Ayodele Fayose who thinks he has the popularity and political relevance to impose his chosen one, Professor Olusola Eleka on PDP Chieftains without maintaining mutual understanding with them?

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This is the case in many Southwest states or perhaps in some APC controlled states.

Political analysts further ascribed Fayemi’s victory to the failure of the incumbent administration in the state led by Governor Ayodele Fayose to pay workers their salaries and other benefits.

Going by the outcome of the Ekiti governorship election, it was a good fight at least PDP won in 4 local governments while APC clinched 12 local governments with less than 20,000 votes.

Unlike 2014 in Ekiti State where Soldiers were used during elections, instead 30,000 Police officers were deployed to the state to maintain peace and ensure credible poll.

Although, no life was lost, but, money played a pivotal role, it was tagged the dominant and determinant factor in the just concluded Ekiti governorship election.

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For Instance, it was reported that, the state government paid N3,000 to workers’ bank accounts; as what? While the APC, PDP were also alleged of paying N4,000/N5,000 to the electorate.

According to Electoral Act 2010 as amended, ‘vote buying’ is a punishable offence under the law, but politicians capitalized on high level of poverty in the land, thus, the electorates sell their mandates for money.

Inducement in Nigeria elections is not new, because virtually all political parties and politicians find their way (s) of catching the attention of eligible voters through different gimmicks.

Another area political analysts observed in the election is that Ekiti loved to be identified with the ruling party at the federal.

In 2014, when the PDP led federal government by President Goodluck Jonathan was in charge, Dr Fayemi lost the election; despite his unprecedented performance in office but Governor Fayose won in all the 16 local government areas of the state.

Also, Governor Fayose did his best in terms of transforming the state, but irregular payment of salaries and allowances of workers was among the factors necessitated for the loss of the PDP in the state.

To some watchers of Nigeria’s Political Scene, out come of Ekiti governorship election is a boost for APC, most especially is a good omen under the leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomole.

It is also a good result for President Muhammadu Buhari considering the constructive and destructive criticism of Governor Ayodele Fayose throughout his administration.

Now, September 22nd, 2018, Osun State governorship election is around the corner, will APC capitalized on Ekiti victory and claimed the Victory?

Well, time will tell because election is a game of permutation, calculation and number.