In spite of criticisms and threat of litigation by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, the state Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) yesterday submitted the results of last Saturday’s referendum it conducted in respect of the proposed new Local Government Development Areas to the state House of Assembly.

The Chairman of the EKSIEC,  Mrs. Bosede Adelusi, who submitted the results on behalf of the commission, said there was nothing evil or illegal in what the SIEC did, contrary to claims by the PDP that it had already gone to court to challenge the process initiated by the Governor Kayode Fayemi-led government.

While the PDP said it was illegal for Fayemi to embark on such policy without recourse to the National Assembly, it accused the assembly of committing illegality by debating an issue that  is pending in court contrary to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

Adelusi said having submitted the results to the state assembly, the bill was now in the court of the assembly to take the next step.

Receiving the results, the Speaker, Dr Adewale Omirin, who disproved the PDP’s claim that the assembly was  acting illegally for accepting the outcome of the referendum, clarified that the assembly had not been served any court summon in this regard, contrary to the position canvassed by the opposition party.

Omirin added that the petitions by some aggrieved communities which were protesting on the choices of headquarters for the newly-created LGCAs in their domains would be critically studied with the intention to do justice to them.  Exonerating the assembly of any complicity in the LGCAs’ creation, Omirin said: “As I stand before  you, the assembly has not been served an notice of court summon to confirm that the party is in court.

“The man behind the whole thing, Dr Kayode Fayemi is a man the rule of law. Even when we went to the court registry, we could not find the suit the PDP claimed it filed against us, which shows that it was a mere propaganda and not real.”

Omirin  consequently, referred the document to the Chairman of House Ad hoc Committee on Local Government Creation, Chief Taiwo Orisalade, who also doubles as deputy Speaker for action.

The EKSIEC Chairman, Adelusi had earlier, at a media briefing announced detailed results of the referendum. Breakdown of the results showed that in Ado Local Government, total “Yes” vote was 3,521 while total “No” vote was nil.

Others were Ekiti East where “Yes” votes were 2,310 and “No” votes were 256; Ekiti West, “Yes” votes were 8,729 while “No” votes was one.

Ekiti South West had 17,725 “Yes” votes and nil “No” vote, Gbonyin Local Government had 5,163 “Yes” votes while 26 “No” votes were recorded.

Ido-Osi Local Government had 2,845 “Yes” votes and 49 “No” votes while Ijero had 6,059 “Yes” votes as against 1,076 “No” votes.

Ikere Local Government had 3,427 “Yes” votes and  “No” vote, while Ikole Local Government recorded 2,518 “Yes” votes and 1,183 “No” votes.

Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government had a total of 4,926 “Yes” and 223 “No” votes, while Moba Local Government 10,088 “Yes” votes and  “No” vote and Oye Local Government had 4,398 “Yes” votes and one “No” vote.

CULLED FROM THISDAY

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