By National News Desk

With 48 hours to the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and election stakeholders have intensified preparations to ensure a peaceful, transparent and credible exercise.

INEC is set to begin the distribution of sensitive election materials across the state’s 16 local government areas on Thursday, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,000 personnel and the Nigeria Police Force activated an extensive security framework ahead of the poll.

The heightened preparations come as the Court of Appeal constituted the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, while the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) confirmed the successful airlift of sensitive electoral materials for the election and other by-elections scheduled across the country.

The election, which is widely viewed as a major political test ahead of the 2027 general elections, will see candidates from 13 political parties contest for the governorship seat across 16 local government areas, 177 wards and more than 2,000 polling units.

Speaking on Wednesday, Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said INEC had concluded major preparations for the poll and would commence the movement of sensitive materials, including ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines and voter registers, to local government areas.

“We have done most of the things we need to do,” Omoseyindemi said, expressing confidence in the commission’s readiness to conduct a credible and acceptable election.

He noted that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed and assured stakeholders that voting would begin promptly across the state.

NAF Airlifts Election Materials

The Nigerian Air Force said it successfully transported sensitive electoral materials on behalf of INEC between June 15 and 16 following a request from the commission.

In a statement by the Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Air Force said the operation covered the Ekiti governorship election and senatorial by-elections in Enugu North, Nasarawa North and Rivers South-East Senatorial Districts.

The operation also supported federal constituency by-elections in Kano and Kebbi states.

Ejodame said strategic airlift assets were deployed to transport the materials from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja to designated airports across the country within the stipulated timeframe.

Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, commended personnel involved in the exercise, describing the operation as a demonstration of the military’s commitment to supporting democratic institutions and national development.

Police Activate Election Security Framework

As electoral materials arrive in the state, the police have intensified intelligence gathering and deployment strategies to forestall violence and maintain law and order.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Abayomi Shogunle, has assumed duty and commenced implementation of security protocols approved by the Inspector-General of Police.

According to the Ekiti State Police Command spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, the measures include intelligence mapping to neutralise political violence, cultism, thuggery and misinformation campaigns.

Abutu said the command had established a centralised operational framework to coordinate rapid response teams and joint deployments with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

The framework, he explained, is designed to secure polling units, collation centres, election personnel, voters, observers, journalists and critical infrastructure across the state.

Shogunle assured residents that officers deployed for election duties would operate within the confines of the Constitution and Electoral Act, adding that security personnel had been strategically positioned in identified flashpoints.

The Force Headquarters also confirmed that police deployments had been completed ahead of the election.

NSCDC Deploys 10,000 Personnel

In a parallel operation, the NSCDC announced the deployment of 10,000 officers and men across Ekiti State to ensure a violence-free election.

The personnel were drawn from commands in Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Kwara, Edo, Ogun and Kogi states, with additional reinforcements from Zones 6 and 11.

NSCDC spokesperson, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi, said the Corps had also deployed elite tactical units, including the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, Special Weapons and Tactics Unit, Specialized Female Squad, Mining Marshals, Special Force and Crack Squad, as well as the K9 Unit.

The Deputy Commandant General in charge of Operations, Ayuba Phillips, will coordinate the security operation on behalf of the Commandant General.

The Corps said it would not tolerate electoral violence, thuggery or any attempt to disrupt the democratic process.

Disability Inclusion Efforts

Civil society organisation TAF Africa announced plans to deploy 150 election observers and 25 sign language interpreters across the state to enhance participation by persons with disabilities.

Speaking during a training session in Ado Ekiti, the organisation’s Programmes Manager, Dr Andrew Adaji, said observers would monitor polling units with high concentrations of persons with disabilities and use a dedicated election observation application for real-time reporting.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at ensuring accessibility of polling units and compliance with election guidelines relating to persons with disabilities.

Tribunal Constituted Ahead of Poll

Meanwhile, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Monica Dongban-Mensem, has constituted the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal ahead of Saturday’s election.

A statement issued by the tribunal’s secretary, Zubairu Nuhu, said the tribunal was established in line with constitutional provisions and the Electoral Act 2026.

The Chief Judge of Ekiti State, Justice Lekan Ogunmoye, has approved the use of the National Industrial Court premises in Ado Ekiti as the tribunal venue.

The tribunal is expected to handle petitions that may arise from the outcome of the election.

Oyebanji Seeks Fresh Mandate

In a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), highlighted the achievements of his administration and appealed to residents to renew his mandate for another four years.

Oyebanji said his government had fulfilled key promises contained in its 2022 manifesto and laid a solid foundation for economic growth and development.

He urged political parties, election observers and security agencies to conduct themselves professionally and ensure the peaceful conduct of the election.

“So far, this electioneering process 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,” the governor said.

Political observers view the contest as largely a three-horse race involving incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC, Dr Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

With sensitive materials being distributed, security personnel already deployed and election logistics nearing completion, attention is now focused on Saturday’s vote, which is expected to shape political calculations ahead of the 2027 general elections.