Preparations for the Ekiti State governorship election have intensified as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials ahead of Saturday’s poll.
The materials were moved from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Ado Ekiti to the 16 local government areas of the state for the governorship election, as well as the accompanying senatorial and House of Representatives by-elections scheduled for June 20, 2026.
Electoral officials were seen sorting, arranging and packaging the materials before their dispatch, while security agencies maintained a strong presence at the CBN facility and other strategic locations across the state.
The Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the exercise as smooth and successful, assuring stakeholders that the materials would reach their designated destinations before voting begins.
Meanwhile, INEC announced that the number of registered voters in Ekiti State has exceeded one million ahead of the election.
According to the commission, registered voters increased from 987,647 in the 2023 election cycle to 1,059,360 in 2026.
INEC also revealed that Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection rose from 958,052 in 2023 to 1,028,929 in 2026, representing a collection rate of 97 per cent and coverage of 97.1 per cent of registered voters in the state.
The commission confirmed that the PVC collection exercise, which was initially scheduled to end on June 11, was extended to June 14 after consultations with political parties and other stakeholders.
INEC further disclosed that 14,406 applications were received for replacement of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards, with all requested replacements produced and most already collected by applicants.
However, the commission stated that digital replacement voter cards would not be available for the current election due to incomplete technological infrastructure, adding that the option is expected to be introduced in future elections, including the 2026 Osun governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
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