Update on Ekiti State Elections

6th May 2009

Dear Sisters

I would like to thank you all for your messages of support, concern and solidarity.

What happened in Ekiti State last night was an unspeakable atrocity. Before our eyes, the Resident Electoral Officer for Ekiti State, Mrs Ayoka Adebayo admitted election figures from a local government area where results were not lawfully collated, an issue over which she resigned last week. In her resignation letter she claims she was being forced to accept illegal votes, something she was not prepared to do because it would be against her Christian conscience. Her resignation was not accepted, and she agreed to return to Ekiti to complete the election provided she did so without external pressure. To our total shock and dismay, she sat here last night and produced the same results she herself had said were illegal. With these 15,000 unlawfully cast votes, the ruling party has stolen the election again.

Kayode, his Deputy and I are fine. We will continue the struggle until justice is done. What has happened goes beyond Ekiti State. We know it finds resonance in many other Nigerian States and African countries as well. As a feminist activist, my heart bleeds for yet another woman who has allowed herself to be used as another cog in the wheels of democracy. This serves as another lesson in how, where and why we recruit women into leadership.

Once again many thanks to you all.

Aluta Continua!

Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi