Lagos – Politicians on Wednesday attributed the success recorded in the just-concluded governorship polls in Ekiti to the non-interference gesture displayed by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Hailing Jonathan for the gesture, the politicians told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that if there had been “external influence,” the election would not have recorded the success and credibility it got.

NAN recalls that Mr Ayo Fayose (PDP), polled 203, 090 votes, to emerge winner of the election, while the incumbent, Gov. Kayode Fayemi (APC), polled 120,430 votes.

The election, hailed by observers as a huge success, was contested by 18 candidates from various political parties.

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Movement, Mr Denis Aghanya, commended Jonathan for what he described as his neutrality, noting that there was no interference from the president.

“Sincerely, the Ekiti election shows that President Goodluck Jonathan is determined to succeed.

“The election is perfect from all dimensions. I attribute the success to the president.

“No matter how willing INEC is to get it right, they cannot succeed if there is interference of the government,” he said.

Aghanya advised the electoral body to maintain the style it used for the election in future elections, urging INEC to be watchful.

A former Deputy National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Alhaji Musa Umar, also commended the government and INEC for conducting free, fair and credible polls.

“The election was one of the best; all electoral departments were okay in terms of mobilisation, voters’ list, delivery of materials, commencement and conclusion of voting.

“Let me also commend INEC for the prompt announcement of the results and providing more than adequate security.

“The government tried and it shows they are the listening type,” Umar said.

He, however, urged INEC to refrain from using intimidating security, saying it was the area people did not like.

The Lagos State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Mr Nkem Lemchi, also said that the election recorded significant improvement.

“The positive attitude of the parties, candidates and government gave credence to that fact.”

Lemchi advised stakeholders not to relent in making sure election was successful in the country.

“If we all work well on our respective parts, our election will continue to improve until we achieve absolute credibility.”

The ADC chairman noted that, it was not INEC and government alone that would usher in improvement, advising politicians to see election as a competition and not a war.

/NAN