With just two days to the Ekiti State governorship election, electoral authorities, security agencies and civil society organisations have intensified preparations for what is widely seen as a key political test ahead of Nigeria’s 2027 general election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is set to begin the distribution of sensitive election materials across the state’s 16 local government areas, while security agencies have rolled out extensive measures to ensure a peaceful and credible poll.
Ekiti voters will choose a governor from candidates representing 13 political parties in an election that will take place across 177 wards and more than 2,000 polling units.
INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti
State, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the commission had concluded major preparations for the exercise and would commence the movement of sensitive materials, including ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and voter registers.
“We have done most of the things we need to do,” he told journalists.
He reiterated that the electoral body was fully prepared to conduct a transparent and credible election, adding that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed across the state.
Air Force Airlifts Election Materials
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed that it had successfully airlifted sensitive electoral materials for the Ekiti governorship election and several by-elections scheduled for the same day.
In a statement, NAF spokesperson Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame said the operation was carried out following a request from INEC to ensure the timely and secure delivery of election materials.
“Leveraging its strategic airlift capabilities, the NAF transported the sensitive electoral materials from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to designated airports in Enugu, Rivers and Kano States, ensuring that INEC received the materials within the stipulated timeline ahead of the elections,” he said.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, described the operation as evidence of the military’s commitment to supporting democratic institutions.
“The successful airlift underscores the Service’s unwavering commitment to supporting democratic institutions and national development,” he said.
Police, NSCDC Roll Out Security Plans
Security agencies have also announced extensive deployments across the state to prevent violence and maintain order before, during and after the election.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Abayomi Shogunle, has assumed duty and commenced implementation of election security protocols approved by the Inspector-General of Police.
Police spokesperson Sunday Abutu said intelligence gathering, anti-thuggery operations, counter-misinformation efforts and the secure movement of electoral materials formed part of the security framework.
“These include intelligence mapping to neutralise political violence, anti-thuggery, anti-cult related activities, counter-misinformation campaigns and robust planning for secured movement of electoral materials,” he said.
The police also established a centralised operational framework to coordinate rapid response teams and joint deployments under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
Separately, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) announced the deployment of 10,000 personnel drawn from several states and specialised tactical units.
NSCDC spokesperson Babawale Afolabi said the deployment was aimed at guaranteeing a peaceful electoral process.
“Our mission in Ekiti State is definitive: to protect the integrity of the democratic process and guarantee the safety of every voter, election official and citizen,” he said.
“We will tolerate no form of electoral violence, thuggery, or disruption.”
The corps said elite units, including the Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Special Force and K9 Unit, had been mobilised to address potential security threats.
Disability Inclusion Takes Centre Stage
Civil society organisation TAF Africa said it would deploy 150 election observers and 25 sign language interpreters to polling units with significant populations of persons with disabilities.
The organisation’s Programmes Manager, Dr Andrew Adaji, said the initiative was aimed at ensuring greater electoral inclusion.
“We are deploying sign language interpreters, about 25 of them. We will put them in units where we have persons with hearing impediments or the deaf,” he said.
Adaji added that observers would use a dedicated election monitoring application to provide real-time reports from polling units across the state.
“What we want to achieve is inclusivity. Over time, persons with disabilities have been excluded in so many things,” he said.
Appeal Court Constitutes Election Tribunal
In a move aimed at addressing potential post-election disputes, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has constituted the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal.
A statement issued by the tribunal’s secretary, Zubairu Nuhu, said the panel was established in accordance with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act.
The National Industrial Court premises in Ado Ekiti have been designated as the tribunal venue.
Oyebanji Seeks Fresh Mandate
Meanwhile, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), appealed to voters to renew his mandate for another four years.
In a statewide broadcast, he highlighted his administration’s achievements and pledged accelerated development if re-elected.
“As we approach the polls, I want to humbly request that you renew the Shared Prosperity Mandate you gave us four years ago by another four years,” he said.
The governor also urged political parties, election observers and security agencies to conduct themselves professionally and ensure the election remains peaceful.
“So far, this current political electioneering has been the most peaceful in the history of our state, and we must do everything to ensure that the election and post-election activities remain peaceful,” he added.
With sensitive materials being distributed, security personnel deployed and election logistics entering their final phase, attention is now turning to Saturday’s vote, a contest expected to have implications far beyond Ekiti as political parties position themselves for the 2027 general election.
