The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has announced its complete operational, technological, and logistical preparedness for the Ekiti State Governorship Election set for Saturday, 20 June 2026. 

The Commission’s Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, is personally overseeing a final pre-election meeting with key stakeholders in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, 11th June 2026.

Amupitan addressed the Ekiti State Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Forum nine days to the election, providing a detailed readiness profile and issuing direct responsibilities to political parties, security agencies, the media, and civil society to ensure a credible electoral process.

The INEC Chairman revealed that the Commission has completed a clean, legally verified Register of Voters, which now includes 1,059,360 registered citizens, an increase from the 2023 figure of 987,647, following the successful addition of 66,664 new registrants during Phases I and II of the Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, initiative. He also noted that the Automated Biometric Identification System, ABIS, has effectively invalidated 2,103 instances of double registration, thereby enhancing the integrity of the voter roll.

These voters will cast their votes across 16 Local Government Areas, 177 Registration Areas (Wards), and 2,445 Polling Units, with the Commission aiming for all polling units to be activated simultaneously at precisely 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.

Regarding the Commission’s technological infrastructure, Prof. Amupitan confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, will be utilized in all 2,445 Polling Units as the exclusive tool for voter authentication and accreditation. Additionally, all results at the polling level will be transmitted directly to the INEC Result Viewing Portal, IReV, for real-time public verification.

“No PVC, No Accreditation, and No Voting,” the Chairman emphasized, adding: “There will be no bypasses, and there will be no exceptions.”

He additionally declared the implementation of assistive technologies, such as Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses for individuals with albinism and those living with disabilities, emphasizing that equity in electoral access is “a necessity, not an afterthought.”

Regarding the Commission’s security framework, Prof. Amupitan revealed that INEC, in complete collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), had performed detailed threat mapping throughout the state, pinpointing localized vulnerabilities such as political thuggery and ballot disruption in specific areas. He stated that the EFCC and the ICPC had been engaged to protect all 2,445 Polling Units from the effects of vote-buying and financial inducement.

“We will safeguard the ballot box from both physical violence and fiscal contamination,” he asserted.

In reference to the Peace Accord signed by all 13 competing political parties on 21 May 2026, the Chairman praised party leadership for their public display of democratic civility but issued a stern warning that this gesture must be reflected in actual conduct on the ground.

“An accord holds value only as long as its signatories act in good faith,” Prof. Amupitan remarked. “The Peace Accord should not be regarded as a mere ceremonial formality. Its principles must be deeply internalized and strictly adhered to by your party officials, polling agents, and grassroots supporters.”

The INEC Chairman announced that the Commission had accredited 91 media organizations, deploying a total of 675 journalists from print, broadcast, and new media, along with 98 observer groups consisting of 96 domestic and two international organizations, to oversee every aspect of the electoral process throughout Ekiti State.

He urged members of the press to report with accuracy, fairness, and professional integrity, characterizing their role as constitutional rather than simply logistical.

To accredited observer groups, he charged them to deploy strictly in accordance with Commission guidelines, remain neutral in conduct and appearance throughout the process, and present findings with fidelity to fact, affirming INEC’s full co-operation with every accredited journalist and observer.

Amupitan also placed the Ekiti election within a wider national context, disclosing that the Commission would simultaneously conduct legislative bye-elections on 20 June 2026 across six states: Enugu North, Nasarawa North, Rivers South East, and Ondo South Senatorial Districts, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State.

“There is no dilution of institutional focus,” he assured stakeholders. “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.”

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, in his remarks, confirmed to the gathering that preparation had reached an advanced stage, with non-sensitive materials already received and being managed in accordance with established procedures. He said sensitive materials would be deployed by the following week, training of election personnel was ongoing, and logistics arrangements were being finalised. He noted that continuous engagement with security agencies, political parties, civil society organisations, traditional institutions, and the media was being sustained, adding that the Commission had met with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers earlier in the day.

The Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State, CP Michael Falade, assured the forum that the Nigeria Police Force and all security agencies were fully deployed and would remain professional and impartial in the protection of voters, candidates, and electoral officials throughout the process.

Ekiti State Chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC),  Hon. Adeniji Akinropo Philip, speaking on behalf of all political parties, called for peaceful conduct and constructive inclusivity, urging parties to see themselves as members of a common community rather than rivals in a winner-takes-all contest. He also called on INEC to ensure a level playing field for all participating parties.

Earlier in the day, ahead of the Stakeholders’ Forum, Prof. Amupitan had led a strategic consultative meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers, where he presented the Commission’s full readiness profile and formally enlisted the moral and traditional authority of the royal fathers in the cause of peaceful electoral conduct across Ekiti communities.

At that engagement, the Chairman disclosed findings from the Commission’s empirical risk mapping, identifying specific local government areas carrying elevated security concerns. Ado-Ekiti, Effon, Ekiti South West, Ikere, Irepodun/Ifelodun, and Oye were flagged as vulnerable to political thuggery, cultism, and attempted ballot disruption, while Emure, Ikole, Ilejemeje, and Moba were marked for heightened security vigilance due to asymmetric threats including kidnapping. He disclosed that 469 polling units had been identified within a critical 500-metre radius of these risk locations, with synchronised inter-agency deployments planned to provide robust protection.

The Chairman called on the royal fathers to use their traditional authority to summon candidates and political actors within their respective domains and remind them that the Peace Accord signed on 21 May 2026 must be respected in every village and ward. He also appealed to the Council to deploy traditional town criers, ward chiefs, and community channels to mobilise subjects for PVC collection and early turnout by 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.

On the menace of vote-buying, Prof. Amupitan appealed directly to the traditional rulers to deploy their platforms against what he described as an ethical contamination of the democratic process.

“The Fountain of Knowledge must lead the nation in demonstrating that electoral choices cannot be purchased,” he told the royal assembly.

He gave the Council his personal assurance that INEC has no candidate in the election, reiterating that the Commission’s only allegiance is to the Constitution, the Electoral Act, and the sovereign will of the Ekiti people.

National Leader of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Seriake Dickson, has asked party chieftains to call their supporters to order.

Dickson made the call on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting of the NDC in Abuja.

He was speaking on the recent criticism directed at the party, noting that they would not allow anyone to destroy anybody’s image in the party.

“I can’t get why some people are painting the NDC in a bad light and why their leaders can’t call their supporters to order for God’s sake.

“When they came in, we accepted that we are going to be partners and build this platform together. They are our flag bearers, all of us will support them go through the general elections and bring Nigerians a government that they deserve.

“We are not going to allow anyone to destroy anybody’s image when you have just come into the party and we have done everything for you,” Dickson said.

With the African Democratic Congress, ADC, primary elections now over, attention has shifted to who becomes the running mate to the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Atiku had picked the current Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi as his running mate in 2019 and former governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa as his running mate in the 2023 polls.

A few weeks ago, Atiku emerged as the flag bearer of the ADC after polling the highest number of votes in the party’s primary election.

DAILY POST reports that he is said to be thinking towards the South-East, with names like the Director General of the World Trade Organization, WTO, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha being mentioned.

Amid these speculations, the Director of Politics at Arise News, Sumner Sambo had said Okonjo-Iweala distanced herself from such a move, stressing that she was unwilling to abandon her current post as WTO DG for a Nigerian political contest.

Okonjo-Iweala assumed the position of the DG of WTO on March 1, 2021, becoming both the first woman and the first African to lead the world trade organization.

She assumed her second term as director-general in September 2023 and her tenure runs until 2029.

However, Sambo said she had communicated her position directly to Atiku’s camp.

Sambo said: “Okonjo-Iweala is not willing to actually leave a lucrative job as DG of the World Trade Organisation to actually consider that.

“She’s made it known to them, and that is understandable because she just resumed in September last year, and she has a tenure that will run for a second term till 2029.”

Emeka Ihedioha

One of the names featuring prominently is the former governor of Imo State and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Ihedioha, who is also a member of the ADC, is believed to be among those the former Vice President is quietly evaluating as his potential running mate.

South South link with Amaechi 

While speculations are rife that Atiku is looking at the Southeast, there are also claims that he has extended his searchlight towards the South South region.

Atiku is said to be considering a fellow presidential aspirant and former Minister of Transportation who served as a two-term governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

The ADC presidential candidate met with Amaechi behind closed doors on Monday, but details of the meeting were never made public. 

However, some believe it has everything to do with the choice of Atiku’s running mate.

Southeast running mate won’t get Atiku votes – APC chieftain, Eli

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Sogbeye Eli, has said shopping for a running mate from the Southeast won’t get Atiku many votes in 2027 due to the influence of Obi in the region.

“Atiku has no room for votes from a vice-presidential candidate from both the South-East and South-West,” he said in an interview. 

Dele Momodu portrays self as Atiku’s running mate

Amid the political uncertainty, a chieftain of the ADC and former presidential candidate, Dele Momodu had posted a flyer on his social media page wherein he was portrayed as Atiku’s running mate.

Alongside the flyer, Momodu wrote: “The Attraction of Atiku Abubakar/Dele Momodu ticket”, “The right choice for a greater Nigeria.”

Spare tyre won’t be basis of Atiku picking running mate – Aide

Reacting to the speculations, Atiku’s Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said the ADC presidential candidate would pick his running mate based on competence and not on the usual basis of “spare tyre.”

Speaking with DAILY POST, Shaibu said: “On the question of the Vice Presidential slot, it is far too early to speculate on specific regions or individuals. 

“That decision will ultimately be guided by what best serves the national interest and strengthens the mission of rescuing Nigeria.

“What I can say with confidence is that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar understands the enormous responsibilities of leadership. He appreciates that the challenges facing Nigeria today require a competent, experienced, and capable team.

“Therefore, I do not expect the choice of a running mate to be based on symbolism or the outdated notion of a “spare tyre.” Nigeria needs a governing team, not a sole administrator. 

“The Vice President must be someone who can contribute meaningfully to governance, policy formulation, economic management, national cohesion, and the overall task of rebuilding the country.

“When the time comes, Nigerians can expect a decision driven by competence, capacity, and the national interest.”

Picking running mate from Southeast Atiku’s strongest option – Lawyer

Contributing to the discussion, a lawyer, Maduabuchi Idam, pointed out that if Atiku wants national cohesion and political balance, picking his running mate from the Southeast is his “strongest option.”

Idam said Atiku can pose a great challenge to Obi’s presidential ambition if he picks a running mate from the Southeast.

“Atiku’s strongest option may be to choose a running mate from the South-East if the objectives are equity, national cohesion, and political balance in the event of victory. 

“The South-East would need meaningful representation in his administration to foster a greater sense of inclusion and national belonging.

“A northern presidential ticket without South-East representation is likely to attract criticism and apathy from a significant segment of the South-East electorate.

“Furthermore, if Atiku intends to pose a serious challenge to the influence of Peter Obi in the region, selecting a running mate from the South-East could be a strategic necessity. 

“Without such a move, securing the constitutionally required spread of votes, including a substantial share from the region, may prove difficult in the 2027 electio