Ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, 13 political parties contesting the poll on Thursday signed a peace accord, committing themselves to peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.
Among those who endorsed the agreement was the incumbent governor and candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Biodun Oyebanji, who reaffirmed the commitment of the people of Ekiti State to sustaining peace and democratic stability throughout the electoral process.
The signing ceremony witnessed strong appeals from electoral authorities, security agencies and peace advocates urging political actors to ensure that the accord translates into responsible conduct on the field and not remain a mere ceremonial document.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, charged political parties and candidates to uphold the spirit of the peace accord, stressing that Ekiti’s long-standing reputation for political awareness and civility must be preserved.
Professor Amupitan commended the National Peace Committee (NPC) for what he described as its enduring role in safeguarding Nigeria’s democracy through sustained engagement with political stakeholders.
He noted that following the successful management of tensions during the November 2025 Anambra governorship election, INEC was determined to replicate the same peaceful process in Ekiti.
The INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had earlier requested the National Peace Committee to extend the peace accord mechanism to off-cycle governorship elections, a framework that began with the Edo governorship election in September 2020 and has since become institutionalised across several states.
“Time and experience have proven that where political leaders honour their commitments, the peace on paper translates directly to safety on the streets. Today, as 13 political parties prepare to enter the field in Ekiti, we are reminded that this document is not a mere bureaucratic formality; it is a moral treaty signed before the citizens of this state and the global community,” he stated.
Professor Amupitan revealed that INEC had reached an advanced stage of operational preparedness for the election, covering the 16 local government areas, 177 registration areas and 2,445 polling units across the state.
He disclosed that the commission had already presented the Certified True Copy of the harmonised voters register to political parties, with a total of 1,059,360 registered voters expected to participate in the poll.
According to him, INEC is also mobilising a disciplined corps of 52,446 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, as well as bye-elections in Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi and Kano States.
He added that extensive engagements had been carried out with election officials, transport providers and security agencies to ensure seamless deployment of personnel and sensitive materials across all polling and collation centres.
The INEC chairman further disclosed that as of May 18, 2026, 54 media organisations and 470 journalists had applied for accreditation to cover the election, while 96 domestic and two international observer groups had also been accredited to monitor the process.
Emphasising the commission’s neutrality, Professor Amupitan said INEC was only interested in guaranteeing a lawful and credible electoral process.
“It is not the signatures written today that preserve democracy; it is the character of the leaders who hold the pen. If campaigns are characterised by incitement or subversion, the process is compromised long before the first ballot is cast,” he warned.
He urged candidates to transmit the message of peace to their grassroots supporters and cautioned against vote-buying, intimidation and political thuggery.
“Any individual or group seeking to subvert the sovereign will of the Ekiti electorate will be met with the firm, unyielding hand of justice,” he said.
Professor Amupitan also called on the people of Ekiti State to protect the state’s reputation for honour, intellect and democratic maturity by ensuring peaceful participation throughout the election period.
Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by General Martin Agwai, described the peace accord as more than a ceremonial exercise, saying it symbolised a collective commitment to peaceful, free and credible elections.
General Agwai stated that the accord reflected the determination of stakeholders to promote issue-based campaigns, political tolerance, respect for the rule of law and rejection of violence, hate speech and electoral misconduct.
“Ekiti State is widely respected for its political awareness and democratic culture. It is therefore important that all political actors and supporters conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly throughout the election,” he said.
He stressed that no political ambition was worth the loss of lives or destruction of peace in communities, adding that democracy can only flourish in an atmosphere of peace and stability.
Also speaking, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, described the signing of the peace accord as a reminder that elections should remain a contest of ideas and service rather than conflict and division.
The IGP assured that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, had put in place adequate security arrangements for the election.
According to him, comprehensive deployment plans had been concluded for all local government areas, wards and the over 2,400 polling units across the state.
“Security personnel and operational assets will be strategically deployed to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral officers, election observers, and all citizens participating in the democratic process,” he stated.
IGP Disu further assured that the police would remain professional, impartial and committed to protecting democratic values throughout the electoral process.
He urged political parties, candidates and supporters to uphold both the spirit and letter of the peace accord while encouraging Ekiti residents to come out peacefully on election day and exercise their constitutional rights without fear.
