Voting has commenced across Ekiti State as residents head to the polls to elect their next governor, with incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji among 14 candidates contesting the state’s top office.
The election, taking place across 2,445 polling units, is expected to determine whether voters will retain the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) administration or opt for a change in leadership for the next four years.
More than one million registered voters are expected to participate in the exercise, which officially began at about 8:31am in several parts of the state.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had completed the distribution of sensitive and non-sensitive materials to Registration Area Centres and polling units ahead of the poll.
Election officials and security personnel were seen arriving early at several locations, including Saint Thomas Secondary School on Irona Street in Ado Ekiti, where accreditation commenced before voting began.
At Polling Unit 003 in Okelele, Ikogosi town in Ekiti West Local Government Area, voting started peacefully as residents queued to cast their ballots. Governor Oyebanji is expected to vote at the polling unit.
Photographs from the area showed voters casting their ballots as electoral officials supervised the process.
Security has been strengthened across the state’s 16 local government areas, with police authorities assuring residents of adequate protection and a peaceful exercise.
Four of the 14 governorship candidates are contesting the election with female running mates, a development observers say reflects increasing female participation in the state’s political process.
An election observer and First Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sebastian Anyia, described the early stages of the poll as orderly and peaceful.
“The election process has so far been peaceful and orderly, with voter turnout proving encouraging,” Mr Anyia said.
He expressed optimism that the calm atmosphere would continue across the state until the conclusion of voting and collation.
The election is being closely watched as one of Nigeria’s major off-cycle governorship contests, with political parties seeking to consolidate or expand their influence in the South-West state.
Results from the various polling units are expected to begin emerging after the close of voting later in the day.
