2023 elections may not hold, says Gov Fayemi, doubtful over Ekiti guber poll in 2022

Anthony Iwuoma

Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, has voiced out his fears over the likelihood of failure to hold the 2023 general elections in the country, citing security concerns.

Fayemi, who doubles as the Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, is also apprehensive that next year’s governorship election in of Ekiti State on June 22 may also not hold.

Speaking in the state capital at
a colloquium to commemorate this year’s June 12 celebration with the theme: “June12: Securing the Freedom of Democracy”, Fayemi said the rising wave of violence across the country is a grave danger to conducting the elections, adding that Nigeria cannot hold any election unless it first becomes a nation.

“We remember and celebrate June 12 because it represents the possibility of a new Nigeria where our fault lines would become our best lines, and our diversity becomes our strength.

“That is why even as we look forward to another election both here in Ekiti in 2022 and in Nigeria in 2023, I think it is absolutely important for us to always remember that we must first have a country before we are able to have an election.

“If we don’t have a country because we have succumbed to the forces of darkness, then we can kiss elections goodbye and that is why we must all come together – both those who are in government and those who are outside government – to challenge our leaders to do the right thing; confront the issues that divide us, promote the issues that unite us, ensure fairness, ensure equity and justice in our polity. Even as we fight to end criminality, let us unite against all forms of bigotry to build a nation where peace and justice shall reign,” the governor said.