Ekiti Poll: INEC Declares Full Readiness for Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission has declared its readiness for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, saying all operational, technological and logistical arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth and credible exercise.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, made this known on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during a stakeholders’ meeting held nine days before the election. He said the commission had completed preparations across all areas and was working closely with security agencies, political parties, the media and civil society groups ahead of the poll.

According to the commission, the updated voter register now contains 1,059,360 registered voters, reflecting an increase from the previous figure recorded in 2023. The increase followed the addition of new voters through the Continuous Voter Registration exercise. INEC also said its biometric verification system detected and removed over 2,000 cases of double registration to improve the credibility of the register.

The election will take place across the state’s 16 local government areas, 177 wards and 2,445 polling units. The commission plans to open all polling units simultaneously on election day.

Amupitan stated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will be used in all polling units for voter verification and accreditation. He added that results from polling units will be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, allowing the public to monitor the process in real time.

The commission also announced measures to support persons living with disabilities. These include the use of Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses to make voting easier and more accessible for affected voters.

On security, INEC disclosed that it had carried out risk assessments across the state in partnership with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security. Areas considered vulnerable to political violence, ballot disruption and other threats have been identified for closer monitoring.

The commission also said anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, will be involved in efforts to prevent vote-buying and other forms of electoral misconduct during the election.

Amupitan urged political parties to remain committed to the peace accord earlier signed by all participating parties. He warned that peaceful conduct should not be limited to public declarations but must be reflected in the actions of candidates, supporters and party officials throughout the election period.

INEC further revealed that 91 media organisations and hundreds of journalists have been accredited to cover the election, while 98 observer groups, including local and international organisations, will monitor the process across the state.

The commission called on journalists to maintain professionalism and report events accurately. Observer groups were also urged to remain neutral and operate within approved guidelines while carrying out their assignments.

Beyond the Ekiti election, the INEC chairman disclosed that several legislative by-elections will also take place on the same day in different states across the country. He assured stakeholders that the commission has sufficient capacity to manage all elections without affecting standards or efficiency.

Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said preparations were already at an advanced stage. He noted that non-sensitive materials had been received and distributed according to procedure, while training of election officials and final logistics arrangements were ongoing.

The state Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, also assured residents that security agencies were prepared to provide adequate protection before, during and after the election. He pledged that security personnel would remain professional and impartial throughout the exercise.

Representatives of political parties used the meeting to call for peaceful participation and equal treatment of all contestants. They urged INEC to provide a level playing field and conduct the election in a transparent manner.

Earlier in the day, Amupitan met with members of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, where he briefed them on the commission’s preparations and sought their support in promoting peaceful conduct among political actors and residents.

During the meeting, he disclosed that some local government areas had been identified as locations requiring extra security attention due to concerns ranging from political violence to criminal threats. He said hundreds of polling units located near these areas would receive additional security coverage.

The INEC chairman also appealed to traditional rulers to encourage residents to collect their voter cards and participate peacefully in the election.

He maintained that the commission remains neutral and has no interest in any candidate, stressing that its responsibility is to conduct a free, fair and credible election that reflects the will of the people of Ekiti State.