A total of 15 political parties will today slug it out in the keenly anticipated Ekiti State governorship election as security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) assured voters of a peaceful, credible and violence-free exercise.
Although 15 candidates are on the ballot, political observers believe the contest is largely between four major contenders: the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), where Governor Biodun Oyebanji is seeking re-election; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which fielded Australia-based medical practitioner, Dr Wole Oluyede; the African Democratic Congress (ADC), represented by Ambassador Dare Bejide; and the Accord Party candidate, Hon Opeyemi David-Falegan.
Other parties participating in the election include the Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Action Democratic Party (ADP), Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), and Young Progressives Party (YPP), among others.
Ahead of the poll, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Ekiti Governorship Election, CP Abayomi Shogunle, assured residents, journalists and election stakeholders that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee a hitch-free exercise.
To prevent ballot box snatching and election-related violence, Shogunle announced restrictions on vehicular movement during the election, noting that only exempted categories would be allowed to move around.
According to him, security operatives will be stationed at strategic locations across the state to intercept suspected troublemakers heading to or leaving polling units.
The police boss also disclosed that special security measures had been designed for journalists covering the election.
“We have identified journalists as one of the groups requiring additional security measures,” Shogunle said.
He explained that while dedicated patrol vehicles could not be permanently attached to every media team due to emergency response duties, security personnel would be deployed to assist journalists whenever necessary.
The special protection package, he added, also covers National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members serving as ad hoc staff, election observers, monitors, INEC officials and members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
On electoral malpractice, Shogunle warned that vote buying and vote selling remain criminal offences under the Electoral Act.
He urged members of the public to report anyone involved in the illegal practice, assuring that security agencies would arrest offenders, recover evidence and prosecute those found culpable.
The police commissioner dismissed fears over the security of sensitive election materials, insisting that adequate arrangements had been made to safeguard all electoral assets.
“Anyone attempting to move around with electoral materials without escorts knows what would likely happen,” he said, citing his experience during the Anambra governorship election where no ballot box was snatched.
Shogunle further revealed that police officers would spend the night at Registration Area Centres (RACs) alongside INEC officials and ad hoc staff to ensure smooth deployment to polling units.
Escort officers, guard personnel and officers assigned to polling centres, he said, would also remain at the RACs to facilitate early movement on election day.
“We are putting everything in place to ensure nothing disrupts the process. Our goal is to arrive at polling units early, set up on time and ensure voting commences by 8:30 a.m.,” he assured.
With security agencies on high alert and INEC expressing confidence in its preparations, all eyes are now on Ekiti as voters head to the polls to decide who occupies the state’s highest office for the next four years.
