The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has told Prof. Kolapo Olusola Eleka, the defeated candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State to head for the election tribunal if he wishes to challenge the result of the polls in court.

INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mr. Wole Osaze-Uzzi insisted that the result of the election, which saw the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kayode Fayemi emerging victorious was widely adjudged to be free and fair and a reflection of the will of Ekiti people.

“INEC welcomes the decision of Prof. Eleka to go to the tribunal on the outcome of the governorship election. That is the proper thing to do. Legal process is a better resort than making inciting statements and engaging in media trial.

“We welcome judicial intervention on disputes arising from the election. Just like in the case of Edo State, it is left to Eleka to prove his case before the tribunal,” Osaze-Uzzi told journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

“Even international and local observers rated the conduct of the poll as good. We have been receiving preliminary reports from the accredited Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). Most of those in the so-called Coalition of Civil Society Groups were not accredited for the poll by INEC.

“The materials and logistics were on spot and accreditation of voters started as and when due in more than 92 per cent of the polling units.

“INEC is yet to have a post-mortem session on the poll but we have received oral briefing from some of our National Commissioners and others on ground. Certainly, we will hold a post-mortem meeting when all officials are fully back,” he added.