Ekiti election: Commercial motorcyclists, tricyclists defy movement restriction order

Commercial motorcyclists and tricycle riders in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday continued their operations in defiance of the restriction of movement ordered by police for the conduct of the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State.

As of 8:00 a m. when the accreditation and voting were scheduled to commence, some traders at major markets in Ado-Ekiti metropolis displayed their wares and attending to customers.

The police commissioner in charge of Ekiti governorship election, Abayomi Shogunle, had on Friday ordered restriction of vehicular movement from midnight on Friday till 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Some of the markets visited within the state capital included Eleyeo markets, Oja Oba Erekesan, and Oja Bisi, where voting had already commenced.

A commercial motorcyclist, Oluwadare Adeleye, said he was carrying passengers because “the election is just a walk-over for Governor Biodun Oyebanji without serious opponents”, querying why he needed to sit at home.

Adeleye added that the security operatives on ground for the election were very friendly, unlike the past elections.

On his part, a tricyclist, Moses Ajibade, said he was aware of the restriction of movement order by the police, adding, however, that he needed to feed his family and fulfil his weekly contribution obligation, hence the need to engage in brick business.

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“I came out at about 5:30 a.m hoping that by 8 a.m., I would stop but I have to continue working when I noticed there was no stoppage by security men,” he said.

A pepper and vegetable seller, Funmillayo Abolade, said her items are seasonal and could be wasted if not disposed off at the right time.

“I can’t leave my market to waste; that’s why I came out to sell and I’m not here alone; you can see my other colleagues also selling their wares,” she stated.

When reminded of the police restriction directive, Abolade said she was aware but added that she had to be at the market and go back to vote later.

Meanwhile, there was early arrival of election materials, massive turnout of voters, and heavy presence of security operatives in most of the wards and polling units in Ado Local Government Area of Ekiti State.