By Ayomide Otitoju
No fewer than 1,059,360 registered voters are expected to head to the polls on Saturday to elect a new governor of Ekiti State in an election widely seen as a key test of Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The governorship election, organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), will take place across the state’s 16 local government areas, with voters choosing the candidate who will govern the state for the next four years.
The contest comes amid growing public concern over issues such as insecurity, the rising cost of living, infrastructure development, public service delivery and debates surrounding political zoning.
Ahead of the poll, INEC intensified preparations, including the distribution of sensitive election materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to all local government areas under tight security.
Ekiti Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, expressed confidence in the commission’s readiness, assuring stakeholders that all election materials would be delivered on schedule.
INEC disclosed that the number of registered voters increased from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026, while 1,028,929 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected, representing a 97 per cent collection rate.
The commission said it successfully concluded PVC distribution after extending the exercise from June 11 to June 14 following consultations with stakeholders. It also processed 14,406 applications for replacement PVCs in line with the Electoral Act 2026.
INEC noted that plans to introduce downloadable replacement voter cards could not be implemented for the election because the required technological infrastructure is yet to be completed. The option is expected to be available for subsequent elections, including the Osun governorship poll and the 2027 general election.
The electoral body commended traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and the media for supporting voter mobilisation efforts and urged eligible voters to participate peacefully.
INEC also assured voters of the readiness of its technological infrastructure, with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) set to be deployed across all 2,445 polling units.
Speaking during an interactive session with media executives in Ado-Ekiti, INEC Chairman, Joash Amupitan, said a recent mock accreditation exercise confirmed the commission’s preparedness.
According to him, BVAS successfully authenticated voters through fingerprint and facial recognition technology within five to seven seconds during field tests.
Amupitan said upgraded backup BVAS devices and technical support teams had been deployed across the state to ensure prompt replacement of faulty equipment and minimise disruptions on election day.
He added that all electoral officers had been directed to ensure the timely deployment of personnel and materials, with polling expected to commence simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. across the state.
The INEC chairman also warned against the dangers of misinformation and disinformation, describing fake election-related information and unauthorised declaration of results as threats to public peace and democratic stability.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has announced the strategic deployment of personnel and operational assets across the state to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process.
The police said the deployment is aimed at protecting lives, safeguarding electoral materials and creating a secure environment for voters and election officials.
Local and international observers are expected to monitor the exercise, while civil society organisations have continued to encourage voter participation.
Election observation group Yiaga Africa said voter turnout could play a decisive role in determining the competitiveness of the election.
Speaking on behalf of the organisation, Safiya Bichi said high voter turnout would likely make the contest more competitive, while low participation could favour certain political interests.
She also expressed concern over reports of voter inducement through gifts and food items and urged citizens, particularly young people, to reject voter apathy and participate actively in the democratic process.
As voting begins on Saturday, attention will focus on voter turnout, security arrangements, the performance of electoral technology and the conduct of political actors, with the Ekiti governorship election expected to provide an important indication of Nigeria’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
