The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has declared full operational, technological and logistical readiness for the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for June 20, 2026, while calling on political actors, the media and traditional rulers to support a peaceful and credible electoral process.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the declaration during the Ekiti State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum held in Ado-Ekiti, where he outlined the Commission’s preparations and charged critical stakeholders to play their roles responsibly ahead of the poll.
According to the INEC Daily Bulletin of June 12, 2026, the Commission has completed preparations for the election, including the compilation of a legally verified voter register containing 1,059,360 registered voters, up from the 987,647 recorded during the 2023 electoral cycle.
The Chairman disclosed that 66,664 new voters were added through the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, while the Automated Biometric Identification System successfully detected and removed 2,103 cases of double registration to strengthen the integrity of the voters’ register.
He said voters would cast their ballots across 2,445 polling units located in 177 wards and 16 local government areas, with polling activities expected to commence simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. on election day.
Amupitan reaffirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, would be deployed in all polling units as the sole means of voter accreditation, while polling unit results would be uploaded directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, for public scrutiny.
He stressed that only voters with valid Permanent Voter Cards would be accredited and allowed to vote, insisting that there would be no exceptions to the rule.
The INEC Chairman also announced the deployment of assistive devices, including Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses, to facilitate participation by persons living with disabilities and persons with albinism.
On election security, Amupitan disclosed that the Commission, working with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, had identified areas vulnerable to political violence and other security threats.
He said anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, would work alongside security agencies to curb vote-buying and other electoral malpractices.
The Commission further revealed that 91 media organisations deploying 675 journalists and 98 observer groups made up of domestic and international organisations had been accredited to monitor the election.
Amupitan urged journalists to uphold professionalism, accuracy and fairness in their reportage, warning against sensationalism and partisan conduct that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
He also called on observer groups to remain neutral and operate strictly within established guidelines.
In a separate engagement with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, the INEC Chairman appealed to royal fathers to use their influence to promote peace, encourage the collection of Permanent Voter Cards and mobilise citizens for early participation in the election.
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 potential flashpoints for political thuggery and ballot disruption, while Emure, Ikole, Ilejemeje and Moba required heightened vigilance due to kidnapping threats.
The bulletin noted that 469 polling units located within 500 metres of identified risk areas would receive enhanced security coverage through coordinated inter-agency deployments.
Amupitan assured stakeholders that INEC remained impartial and committed solely to the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the democratic will of the people of Ekiti State.
INEC also reported that the Commission would conduct six legislative bye-elections in different parts of the country on the same day, maintaining that the same operational standards and security arrangements being deployed for the Ekiti governorship election would apply to the concurrent polls.
