The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its full operational, technological, and logistical readiness for the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for June 20, 2026, with the Commission’s Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, SAN, calling on political parties, the media, security agencies, civil society groups, and traditional rulers to play their roles in ensuring a peaceful, credible, and transparent electoral process.
Speaking at the Ekiti State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Professor Amupitan presented the Commission’s readiness profile and outlined measures put in place to guarantee the integrity of the election.
He disclosed that INEC had finalized a legally verified Register of Voters comprising 1,059,360 registered voters, representing an increase from the 987,647 voters recorded during the 2023 election cycle. According to him, the increase followed the successful registration of 66,664 new voters during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, while the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) invalidated 2,103 cases of double registration.
The INEC Chairman stated that voters would cast their ballots across 16 Local Government Areas, 177 Registration Areas, and 2,445 Polling Units, with all polling units expected to commence accreditation and voting simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.
Professor Amupitan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to deploying the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) across all polling units as the sole means of voter accreditation and authentication, while polling unit results would be electronically transmitted to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) for public scrutiny and transparency.
He reiterated the Commission’s strict enforcement of electoral regulations, stressing that only holders of valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would be accredited to vote.
“There will be no bypasses, and there will be no exceptions,” he stated.
The Chairman also announced the deployment of assistive technologies, including Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses, to ensure that persons living with disabilities and persons with albinism participate fully in the electoral process.
On election security, Professor Amupitan disclosed that INEC, in collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), had conducted extensive threat assessments across the state and identified areas vulnerable to political thuggery, cult activities, ballot disruption, and other security concerns.
He revealed that anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), had been enlisted to combat vote-buying and financial inducement at polling units.
“We shall defend the ballot box from physical violence and fiscal contamination alike,” he declared.
The INEC Chairman also referenced the Peace Accord signed by the 13 political parties participating in the election on May 21, 2026, commending party leaders for embracing peaceful conduct while warning that the agreement must be reflected in the behaviour of party officials, agents, and supporters at all levels.
“An accord is only as valuable as the good faith of its signatories. The Peace Accord must not be treated as a decorative ceremonial exercise,” he said.
Professor Amupitan further disclosed that the Commission had accredited 91 media organisations deploying 675 journalists, alongside 98 observer groups comprising 96 domestic and two international organisations, to monitor the election.
He charged journalists to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, fairness, and accuracy in their coverage of the electoral process.
“You are the bridge between the ballot box and the citizenry. Resist the temptation of sensationalism, reject the inducement of partisanship, and decline every invitation to become an instrument of electoral mischief,” he advised.
The INEC Chairman also revealed that the Commission would simultaneously conduct legislative bye-elections in six states on the same day as the Ekiti governorship election, assuring stakeholders that the concurrent exercises would not affect the Commission’s preparedness for the Ekiti poll.
“There is no dilution of institutional focus. The exact same rigorous operational standards, technological safeguards, and stringent security arrangements deployed for the Ekiti Governorship Election will be uniformly applied across these concurrent bye-elections,” he said.
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, confirmed that preparations for the election had reached an advanced stage, with non-sensitive materials already received and logistics arrangements nearing completion.
He stated that training of election personnel was ongoing while engagement with political parties, security agencies, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, and the media had continued to ensure a seamless electoral process.
Also speaking at the forum, the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command, CP Michael Falade, assured stakeholders that security agencies would remain professional, impartial, and fully committed to protecting voters, candidates, electoral officials, and election materials throughout the exercise.
On behalf of political parties, the Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Ekiti State, Hon. Adeniji Akinropo Philip, called for peaceful participation and urged INEC to provide a level playing field for all contestants.
Earlier in the day, Professor Amupitan held a strategic meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, where he sought the support of royal fathers in promoting peaceful conduct before, during, and after the election.
During the engagement, he disclosed that the Commission’s risk assessment had identified Ado-Ekiti, Effon, Ekiti South West, Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun, and Oye Local Government Areas as vulnerable to political thuggery, cultism, and ballot disruption, while Emure, Ikole, Ilejemeje, and Moba Local Government Areas required heightened vigilance due to kidnapping and related security threats.
He revealed that 469 polling units located within 500 metres of identified risk zones had been mapped for enhanced security coverage through coordinated inter-agency deployments.
The INEC Chairman urged the traditional rulers to mobilise their subjects for PVC collection and early voter turnout while also using their influence to ensure strict adherence to the Peace Accord by political actors within their domains.
He further appealed to the royal fathers to discourage vote-buying and other forms of electoral malpractice, insisting that democratic choices must not be compromised through financial inducement.
Professor Amupitan assured the traditional rulers and the people of Ekiti State that INEC remained neutral and committed solely to upholding the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the sovereign will of the electorate.
“The Commission has no candidate in this election. Our allegiance is to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the sovereign will of the people,” he affirmed.
