No fewer than 1,059,360 registered voters will tomorrow head to the polls to cast their votes and elect the next governor of Ekiti State.
The exercise, which will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will be held across the 16 local government areas of the state.
The election marks a critical moment in the state’s political journey, with 13 political parties fielding candidates in a contest that will determine who leads Ekiti for the next four years. At the centre of the race is incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who is seeking a second term in office.
Other political parties cleared by INEC for the election are Accord Party, African Action Congress (AAC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Action Peoples Party (APP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Young Progressives Party (YPP) and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
Polls open at 8:30 a.m. on election day.
As voters prepare to make their choices, issues such as insecurity, the rising cost of living, infrastructure development, public service delivery and the lingering debate over zoning are expected to shape electoral decisions.
INEC Completes Preparations, Sensitive Materials Deployed
Ahead of the election, INEC has intensified preparations across the state, including the distribution of sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to all 16 local government areas.
Officials of the commission were seen sorting and dispatching election materials at the CBN office in Ado-Ekiti under tight security.
Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, expressed confidence in the process, assuring stakeholders that all materials would reach their destinations on schedule.
INEC also announced that voter participation was expected to increase significantly compared to the last governorship election. According to the commission, the number of registered voters rose from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
The commission further disclosed that 1,028,929 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) had been collected, representing a collection rate of 97 per cent.
INEC said it had successfully concluded PVC distribution after extending the exercise from June 11 to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders.
The electoral body revealed that 14,406 applications for replacement PVCs were received and processed in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
“The option of a downloadable copy of the lost, damaged, or defaced Voter Cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure for this is yet to be completed.
“The option would be available to voters in subsequent elections, especially the Osun Governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election,” it said.
The commission commended traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and the media for supporting voter mobilisation efforts and urged eligible voters to participate peacefully.
INEC Warns Against Misinformation
INEC has also assured voters of the readiness of its technology infrastructure, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) set to be deployed across all polling units.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Ado-Ekiti, INEC National Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said the commission’s mock accreditation exercise demonstrated its preparedness for the poll.
According to him, BVAS successfully authenticated voters using fingerprints and facial recognition within an average of five to seven seconds during field tests.
“We did not want to speak from an air-conditioned boardroom in Abuja or rely solely on paperwork. We went to the theatre of operations to see for ourselves how our systems are performing.
“The mock accreditation is essentially to test our facilities, especially our technology, and ensure that everything required for the election is functioning optimally.
“What we observed today confirms that our technological defence against identity theft and result manipulation is robust and fully operational. We have provided upgraded backup BVAS devices and deployed technical engineers across the state. Any malfunctioning device can be replaced within minutes,” he said.
Amupitan added that the commission had directed all electoral officers to ensure timely deployment of personnel and materials.
“Our goal remains the simultaneous opening of polls in all 2,445 polling units at exactly 8:30 a.m. on election day. We have directed electoral officers to ensure that polling units are activated on time and that logistics are fully in place before election day.
“The greatest threat we face is not technical failure but misinformation and disinformation. Fake news, manufactured election-day panic and unauthorized declaration of results are direct assaults on public peace and democratic stability,” Amupitan added.
Police Move To Prevent Violence
Security agencies have also intensified preparations to guarantee a peaceful electoral process.
The Nigeria Police Force announced the strategic deployment of personnel and operational assets across the state.
“As the Ekiti State Governorship Election approaches, the Nigeria Police Force has commenced the strategic deployment of personnel and operational assets to ensure a peaceful, secure, and credible electoral process.
“The Force remains committed to safeguarding lives, protecting electoral materials, and providing a secure environment for all stakeholders to exercise their democratic rights without fear or intimidation,” the NPF said.
The deployment is expected to bolster confidence among voters and electoral officials as polling begins across the state.
Observers Push For Voter Participation
Local and international observers will monitor the election, with civil society organisations calling on voters to participate actively in the democratic process.
Yiaga Africa, one of the election observation groups, said voter turnout could significantly influence the competitiveness of the contest.
“There is also an advantage in low turnout. There are times when it favours some political class. However, the more people turnout, the more competitive the election will be, and there is a likelihood that some people might not win the election,” said Safiya Bichi, Head of Knowledge Management and Learning at Yiaga Africa.
“That is why you see people engaging in sharing disinformation about elections, sharing fake information about candidate anticipation, timelines of election, so they can also discourage people from turning out”, Bichi said.
She also raised concerns over alleged inducement of voters through gifts and food items.
“Rice, money, noodles, and all these food items people are sharing; they are making promises ahead of the election,” Bichi added.
She urged citizens, especially young people, to reject voter apathy and participate in the election.
“There is also a popular narrative in Nigeria, not just in Ekiti, that your vote does not count, and we are telling young people that your vote counts.
“If it doesn’t count, nobody will be there to buy it, and these are some of the words we are using to pacify and encourage citizens to engage in our election system,” she added.
As voting begins on Saturday, attention will be focused on voter turnout, security, the performance of electoral technology and the conduct of political actors. The Ekiti governorship election is set to serve as an important test of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general election.