Tension overtook the re-run election in Ekiti North Senatorial, which was marred by violence and mal-practices as Ex-gov Adebayo was attacked and there were reports of sporadic shooting, especially in Ifaki Ekiti (around the palace of Olufaki, Oba Gabriel Agbaje), where Bunmi Adetunmbi Action Congress (AC) candidate and the state Governor, Segun Oni both hail from.
The AC candidate, Adetunmbi, was arrested at Ifaki, his home town, by the Acting Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Fabian Osiji, for allegedly instigating the crisis in the town. He was later moved to the headquarters for questioning.
Adebayo, the first civilian governor of the state, was attacked by suspected hoodlums at Iludun Ekiti while acting as his party (AC) observer. The windscreen of his Toyota was smashed. He named the orderly to the Chairman of llejemeje Local Government, Chief Ebenezer Oladipo, as responsible for the attack.
According to him, hardly had he alighted from his vehicle when the hoodlums at Iludun, allegedly led by the orderly of the Chairman of Ilejemeje LGA rushed at him and started throwing all sorts of dangerous materials to where he stood, saying he was saved by the intervention of his security aides.
He noted that his presence in the area may have sent a signal to the leadership of the PDP that he would not allow them manipulate the election. He said he had formally reported the matter at the Iye Ekiti Police Station where he was assured by the DPO and the governor, Engr Oni, who promised to take up the matter personally.
Similarly, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) during Mr. Ayo Fayose’s regime, Evangelist Adeola Alofe, was arrested at his Ayetoro Ekiti home. Alofe, a chieftain of AC, was arrested for allegedly attempting to disrupt the election.
The chairman of Moba Local Government, Mr. Akin Alebiosu, who was allegedly in company of about 25 thugs with arms, was arrested and moved to the headquarters of the State Police Command. Some of the vehicles suspected to have been used to rig the election were set ablaze in the town.
The camera of Tunji Olarewaju, a reporter assigned to cover the election from African Independent Television (AIT) was smashed, while the vehicle conveying correspondents of media establishments covering the poll was ordered to leave the town.
At the Federal Science and Technical College, Usi Ekiti, the voters register of another voting unit were brought to the centre. Chief Femi Akinyemi, Chairman, Ekiti State Local Government Service Commission, said the people may be forced to request that INEC extend the time of voting so as not to deny the electorate the chance of voting the candidate of their choice.
At Otun Ekiti, headquarters of Moba local Government, the election went on peacefully except that there were protests electoral malpractices.
At Oye Ekiti, the home town of Chief Ayo Arise, the PDP candidate in the election, there was low turn-out of voters. It was the same story at Ikole Ekiti.