Ekiti Goes to Polls Amid Heavy Security

June 20, () — This Saturday, eligible voters in Ekiti State will file out to polling units across the 16 local government areas as the governorship election gets underway under heavy security, with the electorate deciding whether to retain incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji or hand over power to one of 13 challengers seeking to take over the reins of power in the state.

Voting is scheduled to commence at 8:30 a.m. across 2,445 polling units spread across 177 wards, with election officials, party agents, and observers expected to monitor accreditation and balloting in what is already attracting nationwide political attention.

A total of 1,059,360 registered voters are expected to participate in the exercise, making the poll one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle governorship elections.

Heavy security deployment is expected across major highways, polling units, and collation centres, with security agencies already putting in place measures aimed at preventing disruption and ensuring a peaceful exercise.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that all sensitive and non-sensitive election materials have been successfully deployed ahead of the exercise following the completion of statewide logistics arrangements.

Distribution of materials to all 16 local government areas was concluded on Thursday, with ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, and voter registers sorted and dispatched under the supervision of the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, in the presence of political party agents, civil society organisations, and media representatives.

Omoseyindemi said the commission is fully prepared for the election, describing the distribution process as transparent and assuring residents of a free, fair, and credible poll.

Supporting the logistics operation, the Nigerian Air Force airlifted sensitive electoral materials between June 15 and 16 in coordination with INEC to ensure secure delivery ahead of Saturday’s governorship election and accompanying federal constituency bye-elections.

Security is expected to be one of the defining features of the election, with the Commissioner of Police deployed for the exercise, CP Abayomi Shogunle, assuring residents that officers have been strategically positioned across the state based on intelligence assessments and risk evaluation.

He disclosed that identified flashpoints, including Ilejemeje Local Government Area, will remain under heightened surveillance as part of a multi-layered security framework designed to prevent violence, ballot disruption, and other electoral offences.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has also deployed 10,000 personnel drawn from several states including Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Ogun, and Kogi to reinforce security architecture throughout the election period.

INEC disclosed that 1,028,929 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected ahead of the election, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters following an extended PVC collection exercise aimed at improving voter participation.

A total of 14 candidates representing 14 political parties are contesting the governorship election.

Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will face 13 challengers, including Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwadare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Opeyemi Falegan of the Accord Party, Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party (LP), Blessing Abegunde of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Bidemi Awogbemi of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Ayodeji Ojo of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Samuel Akande of the African Action Congress (AAC), Olaniyi Ayodele of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Victor Adetunji of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Olu Omotoso of the Action Alliance (AA), Joseph Anifowose of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), and Ayodele Osinkolu of the Young Progressives Party (YPP).

INEC said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be deployed for voter accreditation at polling units, while results from the election will be uploaded electronically to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for public monitoring as collation progresses.

Political observers say the election is shaping up as a contest between continuity and change, with the ruling APC seeking to consolidate ongoing programmes under Oyebanji while opposition parties push for a shift in governance direction.

Ekiti’s off-cycle election calendar stems from a 2009 Court of Appeal judgment which nullified the election of former Governor Segun Oni after 41 months in office and declared former Governor Kayode Fayemi the winner, leading to a rerun in 2010 that permanently altered the state’s electoral calendar.

INEC has urged residents to remain peaceful and comply with electoral guidelines as the state prepares for another crucial governorship contest under tight security.