By Samuel Sunday
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared full preparedness for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, assuring residents of a credible, transparent, and inclusive process backed by strong logistics, security, and voter education.
Addressing journalists and stakeholders at the Ekiti State, INEC Headquarters in Ado-Ekiti on Monday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the commission has made significant progress in line with its election timetable and remains committed to delivering a free and fair poll.
He disclosed that the final voter register is being compiled and will soon be released to political parties, while the date for the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be announced shortly.
He urged registered voters to collect their PVCs, stressing that only those with valid cards will be allowed to vote.
Dr. Omoseyindemi said recruitment and screening of ad-hoc staff are ongoing, with training set to begin immediately after the process. He explained that officials will be trained on electoral procedures, including the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and result management.
On logistics, he noted that the procurement of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials is on track, while arrangements have been completed for the safe movement and storage of election materials. He added that INEC is working closely with security agencies to ensure materials reach all polling units safely.
He further revealed that the commission will deploy BVAS for voter accreditation, while election results will be transmitted electronically through the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to strengthen transparency and public confidence.
The commissioner said INEC is collaborating with security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to maintain peace. He also highlighted ongoing voter education campaigns targeting youths, women, and persons with disabilities, with civil society groups mobilized across all local government areas.
He identified key risk areas such as vote buying, political thuggery, misinformation, difficult terrain, low voter turnout, and possible weather disruptions, adding that measures have been put in place to address them through security deployment, collaboration with anti-corruption agencies, improved logistics, and targeted voter awareness.
Concludeding, the REC urged voters to come out peacefully and participate in the election, while calling on political parties and the media to act responsibly. He assured that INEC will deliver a credible election that truly reflects the will of the people of Ekiti State.
