INEC has started moving sensitive election materials to all 16 local government areas in Ekiti State for tomorrow's off-cycle governorship election. The exercise began at 1:25 a.m. on Friday at the Central Bank of Nigeria office in Ado-Ekiti under heavy security.
Materials went first to the councils farthest from the capital — Ilejemeje, Ayekire, Ido-Osi, Ijero, Ikole, Ekiti East, and Emure. Resident Electoral Commissioner Bunmi Omoseyindemi said the process is transparent and urged voters to come out peacefully.
But the real story is what security agencies are bracing for. Police Commissioner Abayomi Shogunle says they've identified 460 flashpoints across the 16 LGAs — places where trouble is most likely. He promised an iron fist against vote-buying, thuggery, and violence.
Shogunle, speaking at a media engagement organised by the International Press Centre in Ado-Ekiti, said extra personnel have been deployed to those hotspots. The security operation follows a multi-layered framework approved by Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu.
"With the security architecture we have on the ground, I am confident that this election will be violence-free," Shogunle said.
Movement will be restricted on election day. Police have intensified surveillance at all entry and exit points, especially along borders with Kogi and Kwara states. Voters are advised to trek to polling units. Only accredited officials on essential duties will be exempted from the restriction.
Armed police teams will be stationed at strategic points for rapid response. All 2,445 polling units and collation centres across the state will be fully protected.
37 candidates are contesting for seven seats — the governorship in Ekiti, four senatorial seats across Enugu, Ondo, Nasarawa, and Rivers, one House of Representatives seat in Kano, and one state assembly seat in Kebbi. That's a lot of political energy in one day.
"The process is being carried out in a transparent manner in the presence of security agencies, political parties, observers, and other stakeholders," Omoseyindemi said.
Civil society group Yiaga Africa has identified vote-buying as the single biggest threat to the credibility of the Ekiti poll. Dr Aisha Abdullahi, chair of Yiaga Africa's Ekiti Election Observation Mission, said vote trading could undermine the integrity of the process.
She also flagged security concerns in hotspot LGAs — Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Oye, and Ikere — and raised particular alarm about Ilejemeje and Moba, where recent kidnapping incidents could affect safe movement of voters, officials, and observers after 7 p.m.
The International Press Centre has urged journalists covering the election to stay strictly non-partisan and ensure proper accreditation and identification to avoid confrontations with security personnel.
TAF Africa has deployed 150 observers, including persons with disabilities, to monitor inclusive participation across polling units. Assistant Programme Manager George Dominic Anwayi said the deployment is guided by data on polling units where PWDs are registered.
This is Ekiti's second off-cycle governorship election since the Supreme Court allowed states to hold staggered polls. The last one, in 2022, saw Biodun Oyebanji of the APC win. He's seeking re-election.
Tomorrow, voters will decide whether he gets a second term or if one of the other 36 candidates takes over.