By Jubril Bada

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The success recorded in the last Saturday’s bye-election in Akure North/South Federal Constituency  has been attributed to  many factors.

Stakeholders in the bye-election attributed the success to transparency, security, non-interference of government in the conduct of the election.

Political parties, chieftains of political parties, observers and voters stated this during separate interviews with The Hope.

Seven political parties  contested the bye-election.

The Director, Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State,  Steve Otaloro, said  transparency on the part of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) played a major role that led to the free and fair election.

He added that the primary elections were conducted free and fair with leverage of transparency by political parties.

On security, he explained that not much was at stake in term of security risk that could warrant security risk in such election that involved two local governments.

Otaloro noted that the two councils involved in the election gave room for the leaders of the major political parties to have full concentration on the election.

On his part, the State Chairman of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Mr.Jenyo Ataunoko, attributed the transparency during the election to the maturity and orderliness displayed by political parties during and after the election.

Ataunoko, who said neutrality on the part of security operatives from not being in favour of any political party commended the present government and the ruling APC in the state from intimidating electorate.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the INEC, Dr.Rufus Akeju, who commended the officials of the commission for high level of understanding displayed during the discharge of their official duty contributed to the huge success achieved during the election.

He also noted the level of literacy displayed by Nigerians as part of factors for the credible election.

Also, the Citizen Right for Peace and Non-Violence Initiative as domestic observer during the election described the election as rancour free following the beat efforts put in by security agencies to forestall breakout of law and order during the poll.

Leader of the Organisation, Mr. Olaleye Ajala, pointed out that there was no trace of vote-buying which he described as part of factors that militating against the conduct of free and fair election.

In his comment, the Chairman of State Universal Basic Education and former Special Adviser on Mobilisation and Political Matters, Mr, Victor Olabintan , said the election was violence -free due to the presence of security operatives.

Appraising the process of the election, voters, Mr. Ilesanmi Julius and Mrs. Olajumoke Bunmi-Alade said the process was free of violence due to orderliness applied in their polling unit with the support of security presence.