Ekiti election: Accreditation begins as over one million voters elect new governor

Accreditation has commenced across Ekiti State as more than one million registered voters head to the polls to elect a new governor.

A total of 1,059,360 registered voters are expected to participate in the governorship election being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the state’s 16 local government areas.

The election is regarded as a significant milestone in Ekiti’s political landscape, with candidates from various political parties vying for the state’s top office in a contest that will determine its leadership for the next four years.

Polling units opened at 8:30 a.m., with voters expected to cast their ballots amid concerns over insecurity, the rising cost of living, infrastructure development, public service delivery, and ongoing debates surrounding zoning.

Ahead of the exercise, INEC stepped up preparations by distributing sensitive election materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to all local government areas. Election materials were sorted and dispatched from the CBN office in Ado-Ekiti under heavy security.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, expressed confidence in the commission’s readiness, assuring stakeholders that all election materials would be delivered to their designated locations on time.

INEC also projected a higher voter turnout compared to the previous governorship election, noting that the number of registered voters increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.

INEC, police assure of peaceful Ekiti poll

According to the commission, 1,028,929 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected, representing a 97 per cent collection rate.

The electoral body said it concluded the distribution of PVCs after extending the exercise from June 11 to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders.

INEC further disclosed that it received and processed 14,406 applications for replacement PVCs in compliance with the Electoral Act 2026.

There are 14 contenders on the ballot for the governorship election. The candidates include Governor Biodun Oyebanji (All Progressives Congress), Opeyemi Falegan (Accord Party), Akande Oluwasegun (African Action Congress), Ayodeji Ojo (Action Democratic Party), Oluwadare Bejide (African Democratic Congress), Bidemi Awogbemi (Action Peoples Party), and Joseph Anifowose (Allied Peoples Movement).

Others are Oyebanji Olajuyin (Labour Party), Blessing Abegunde (New Nigeria Peoples Party), Olaniyi Ayodele (People’s Redemption Party), Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele (Young Progressive Party), Victor Adetunji (Zenith Labour Party), Wole Oluyede (Peoples Democratic Party), and Olu Omotoso (Action Alliance).