•Police map out security deployment in flash points, to crack down on vote buyers

•INEC moves sensitive materials to 16 LGAs •NURTW, RTEAN promise timely movement of election materials •Govt declares today work-free

A group of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) monitoring the June 20 Ekiti State governorship election has called on security agencies, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other stakeholders to ensure the peaceful, transparent and credible conduct of Saturday’s poll.

Chairman of the 2026 Ekiti Election Observation Mission of Yiaga Africa, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, who addressed journalists on Thursday during a pre-election assessment briefing, explained that the election should reflect the will and desire of the voters in the state.

According to her, “Yiaga Africa urges INEC to sustain its commitment to transparency and professionalism, particularly in the deployment of election materials, the activation of Registration Area Centres (RACs), the accreditation of voters using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and the management of election results, including the transmission of results.

“Yiaga Africa therefore urges security agencies to sustain intelligence-led deployment, maintain strict neutrality and professionalism, and guarantee the safety of voters, observers, journalists, electoral personnel, party agents and election materials throughout the voting, counting, transmission and collation processes.

“Yiaga Africa urges INEC, in collaboration with security agencies and anti-corruption bodies, to proactively identify arrest and prosecute individuals engaged in vote buying on Election Day.”

Similarly, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre (IPC), Lanre Arogundade, and his counterpart from the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Dr Akin Akingbulu, urged security agencies to collaborate with and support accredited journalists deployed to cover the election.

“We expect the security forces to note that the media is a critical part of the electoral process and so the media should be accorded due rights and privileges to enable them to carry out their social obligations as partners in ensuring the credibility of the electoral process.

“Other stakeholders, including election observers, should also proactively provide journalists covering the elections with information to ensure that all parties work together for the credibility of the electoral process,” Arogundade said.

Security agencies have put adequate measures in place for credible poll —CP Shogunle

The Coordinating Commissioner of Police for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, has assured residents of adequate security arrangements to guarantee the safe movement of election materials and the conduct of a peaceful, free and credible election on Saturday.

Speaking during an interactive session with journalists organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), Shogunle said that, in line with the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, security personnel had already been deployed to escort both sensitive and non-sensitive materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to the 16 local government areas of the state.

“As earlier stated by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, distribution is commencing with the farthest local government areas from here. Police officers have been detailed to escort these materials from this location to all the local government headquarters, where they will be securely stored.

“Our officers will remain on ground to guard the materials throughout the period they are kept at the local government headquarters. By tomorrow (Friday), the materials will be moved from the local governments to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) and subsequently to the polling units where they will be used for Saturday’s election.

“We have put in place comprehensive measures to ensure that all election materials arrive safely at their designated polling units across the state early on Saturday morning to enable voting to commence at the stipulated time,” he said.

Responding to questions on security deployment to vulnerable areas and potential flashpoints, the police commissioner said intelligence reports and risk assessments carried out by various stakeholders had guided security planning for the election.

According to him, “We have carefully considered our intelligence reports as well as risk assessments carried out by different stakeholders. In the areas you have mentioned and other locations identified through our security evaluation, adequate measures have been put in place to address any concerns and prevent security breaches.

“Let me state clearly that the operational order approved by the Inspector-General of Police is anchored on a multi-layered security framework. Under this framework, different security measures and personnel have been strategically deployed to address various identified threats.

“The framework is designed in such a way that if one layer is bypassed, another layer will immediately come into effect. This gives us confidence that we have sufficient safeguards in place to secure the electoral process.

“Our goal is to ensure that the election is conducted peacefully, freely and without violence or any form of disruption. We are committed to providing a secure environment for voters, election officials and all stakeholders throughout the exercise,” Shogunle said.

On the challenge of financial inducement during elections, the CP assured residents and stakeholders that security agencies were prepared to clamp down on vote buying and other electoral offences during Saturday’s poll.

Shogunle said the police had already commenced extensive voter enlightenment on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, particularly those relating to financial inducement and vote trading.

Responding to concerns that vote buying could emerge as a major challenge during the election, the police chief said the force was taking proactive measures to educate citizens on the legal consequences of engaging in such practices.

“One of the steps we have taken is to enlighten voters on the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026, which was recently signed into law. The Act clearly outlines actions and omissions that constitute electoral offences, including vote buying and vote selling,” he said.

According to him, the police have intensified public awareness efforts to ensure that voters understand that financial inducement during elections is a criminal offence punishable under the law.

“We have started informing citizens about these provisions, and I also urge members of the media to use their various platforms to educate the public. People need to understand that if we observe any act of vote buying or related electoral offences, we will not hesitate to enforce the law,” he added.

Shogunle disclosed that specialised training programmes had been organised for police officers deployed for election duties, equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to identify and respond promptly to electoral offences.

INEC moves sensitive materials to 16 LGAs

The Independent National Electoral Commission has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials for Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.

The Nigerian Tribune correspondent, who monitored the exercise at the state headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, observed that security agencies, accredited observers, journalists, political parties and other stakeholders were present to witness the distribution process.

For Saturday’s election, out of the 1,059,360 registered voters in the state, 1,028,929 have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), representing a collection rate of 97.1 per cent. The figure is expected to translate into increased voter participation at the poll.

However, in the 2022 governorship election, out of 988,923 registered voters, 749,065 collected their PVCs, but fewer than 400,000 eventually turned out to vote.

Speaking during the distribution exercise on Thursday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the commission commenced the movement of materials to the 16 local government areas to ensure an early and efficient voting process across the state’s 2,445 polling units on Saturday.

The REC, who was joined by supervising Resident Electoral Commissioners and National Commissioners, disclosed that ballot papers, result sheets and other sensitive materials would arrive at INEC offices in the 16 local government areas on Thursday.

He explained that the materials would be moved early on Friday to the 177 Registration Area Centres (RACs) for onward deployment to polling units on election day.

Reaffirming INEC’s readiness to conduct a credible, free and transparent election, Omoseyindemi appealed to eligible voters to come out en masse and exercise their civic responsibility without fear or intimidation.

Responding to questions on the commission’s preparedness, the REC expressed confidence that INEC was fully ready for the exercise.

“Our level of preparedness is obvious for everyone to see. You can see the electoral officials on ground, security personnel are here, the vehicles are ready and materials are being moved. All these demonstrate that INEC is fully prepared for the election.

“Our responsibility is to provide the platform and the enabling environment for citizens to cast their votes, and that is exactly what we are doing. We encourage all voters to come out en masse and vote for the candidates of their choice,” he said.

We will not fail in our mandate —NURTW, RTEAN

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, major transport unions have assured residents and electoral stakeholders of their readiness to facilitate the smooth movement of election personnel and materials across the state.

The unions also pledged to maintain peace and order throughout the electoral process.

The assurance was given during separate interactions with the Nigerian Tribune as leaders of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) expressed confidence in their preparedness to support INEC in ensuring a successful election.

Speaking on behalf of the RTEAN, the state Chairman, Adeola Sunday, popularly known as “Abokode”, said the association was fully committed to providing logistical support for the poll.

He disclosed that 32 vehicles belonging to RTEAN members had been registered with INEC and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) for election duties across the state’s local government areas.

He dismissed reports suggesting that members of the association would be biased in the discharge of their responsibilities, noting that most transport operators depended on daily earnings to meet their financial obligations and would continue their normal operations while supporting election-related activities.

On his part, the State Chairman of NURTW, Chief Joseph Falope, reaffirmed the union’s commitment to a peaceful and credible election.

He noted that NURTW members would assist in transporting sensitive election materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria to designated locations across the state, stressing that the union’s primary objective was to contribute to the success of the governorship election.

Ekiti govt declares today work-free

The Ekiti State government has declared Friday a work-free day for workers and public servants ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

The Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, in a statement on Thursday, said Governor Biodun Oyebanji approved the holiday “to enable workers travel to their respective voting centres in preparation for the gubernatorial election coming up on Saturday, June 20, 2026.”

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Establishment, Dr Funke Ajibola, who signed the circular, added, “For the purpose of public safety and continuity of essential services, hospitals and health centres, fire service departments and other essential service providers are exempted and shall continue to provide appropriate services.

“All heads of the exempted institutions are to make necessary duty arrangements to ensure uninterrupted service delivery. Chief Executive Officers and Accounting Officers are to ensure compliance with this circular and give it the widest publicity within their respective organisations,” he stated. (Tribune)