Voters in Ekiti State are heading to the polls today to choose their governor for the next four years.
There are 14 candidates in this governorship race. The current governor, Biodun Oyebanji, wants to serve another term with the All Progressives Congress (APC). His first term ends in October.
Other candidates include Oluwole Oluyede from the PDP, Oluwadare Bejide from the ADC, Oyebanji Olajuyin from the LP, Blessing Abegunde from the NNPP, Samuel Akande from the AAC, Ayodeji Ojo from the ADP, Opeyemi Felegan from Accord, Joseph Anifowose from APM, Bidemi Awogbemi from APP, Olaniyi Ayodele from PRP, Victor Adetunji from ZLP, Olu Omotosho from AA, and Ayodele Osinkolu from YPP. Reports say Osinkolu may have withdrawn from the race.
Many believe this election will mostly be between Oyebanji and Oluyede. Some say there is not much challenge from the PDP, making today’s election feel like a simple win for the incumbent.
Ekiti has 1,059,360 registered voters, which is up from 989,224 in 2022 and 909,585 in 2018. However, only 1,028,929 voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) can vote today. The election will take place in 2,445 polling units across 177 wards in the 16 local government areas of the state.
This election is also seen as a test for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as it gets ready for the 2027 general elections. It is the first major poll since President Bola Tinubu signed the amended Electoral Act 2026 in February, which includes new rules for elections.
INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan said the commission is prepared for the election, which starts at 8:30 a.m. After checking a mock accreditation exercise at some polling units last week, Mr Amupitan said everything is set, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), to make sure the election runs smoothly.
He also mentioned that INEC has added extra BVAS devices and technical support staff across all Registration Areas (RA) to quickly fix any equipment issues that may arise today.
On security, Mr Amupitan noted that the commission identified 469 polling units as possible trouble spots. They are working with security agencies to ensure safety during the voting process. Security forces have already sent personnel to prevent any problems, with the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) deploying thousands of their members for the election.
Stay tuned to PREMIUM TIMES for live updates on the election. You can also follow us on Facebook, YouTube, and X.
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