Ekiti Decides 2026: Gubernatorial Race Heats Up Amidst Live Updates and BVAS Challenges

The Ekiti State governorship election, held on a recent Saturday, saw a significant number of the 1,028,929 registered voters who had collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) participate. Out of 1,059,360 registered voters, 14 political parties were involved in the contest across the state's 2,445 polling units. Voting commenced at 8:30 a.m. in most units, with results announced at the polling unit level before collation proceeded through the 177 wards and then the 16 local government areas, culminating in a formal announcement at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

INEC promptly began uploading results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) following the close of polls. Initially, by 6 p.m. on Saturday, 846 polling unit results (34.60% of the total) were uploaded. This figure steadily increased, reaching 87.03% (2,128 out of 2,445 polling units) by the time voting officially concluded at 2:30 p.m., with the process described as peaceful and orderly despite minor delays in some units.

However, the election was not without its challenges, particularly concerning the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). While the EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub lauded BVAS performance with a 96% functionality rate, PREMIUM TIMES observed instances of the device failing to verify facial features, leading to the disenfranchisement of several female voters in Ikere Ekiti. Similar BVAS malfunctions caused delays at other polling units in Ikere-Ekiti, frustrating voters who experienced long queues and repeated failed attempts at accreditation.

Early polling unit results provided glimpses into the candidates' performances. Incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), considered a frontrunner, secured a victory at his polling unit in RA 04, Ekiti West Local Government Area, with 326 votes. He also won Senator Opeyemi Bamidele's polling unit in Eyo-lori Ward 2, Unit 003, with 164 votes against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Dr. Wole Oluyede's eight votes. Conversely, Dr. Wole Oluyede (PDP) won his polling unit in Osagburu Hall/Oke Oloti in Ikere, securing 113 votes against the APC's 84.

Concerns over electoral integrity were significant. The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub flagged “red flag” incidents, including organized vote-buying and voter intimidation across nine Local Government Areas, and 24 reported incidents of violence in 10 LGAs. In Iyin-Ekiti, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) operatives investigating alleged vote-buying were present, leading to an attack on two journalists by suspected hoodlums. Furthermore, Yiaga Africa alleged discrepancies in election materials, noting that ballot papers carried 19 parties, while polling unit result sheets (Form EC8A) provided spaces for 15, and INEC’s final list reflected 14. Yiaga Africa urged INEC to clarify these inconsistencies and issue clear instructions to electoral officers. Reports also indicated restricted access for media personnel in some areas.

Security agencies, led by Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle and Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Rilwan Disu, deployed a multi-layered security framework to ensure a peaceful and orderly process, warning against electoral offenses. However, a fatal shooting in Isan-Ekiti on the eve of the election, though not politically motivated, resulted in low voter turnout in the community, prompting appeals from community leaders for residents to participate without fear.

Politically, Governor Biodun Oyebanji (APC) entered the election as the candidate widely viewed as the frontrunner. His administration, guided by a