High Stakes: Ekiti Governor Election Grips State Amidst Vote Buying & BVAS Glitches

Ekiti State residents went to the polls on Saturday, June 20, 2026, to elect a governor for a new four-year term in an off-cycle governorship election. The contest featured 14 candidates, with the incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) seeking re-election. His main challenger was Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Ahead of the election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) reported a high collection rate of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), with 1,028,929 out of 1,059,360 registered voters collecting their cards, making them eligible to participate across the 2,445 Polling Units in 177 wards. This election also served as a crucial litmus test for INEC as it prepares for the 2027 general election and was the first major poll since the amended Electoral Act 2026 was signed into law.

Security measures were prominently in place, including a restriction on vehicular movement from Friday midnight until 6 p.m. on Saturday, as announced by Police Commissioner Abayomi Shogunle, who oversaw the election. Heavy security personnel from the Nigerian Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed across key areas like Ikere-Ekiti, the hometown of both the APC deputy governorship candidate and the PDP governorship candidate. Early on Saturday, voters and election materials arrived promptly at many polling units, with accreditation and voting commencing between 8:30 a.m. and 8:50 a.m. in various local government areas. INEC Chairman Joash Amupitan had confirmed the commission’s readiness, deploying additional backup BVAS devices and technical support personnel, and identifying 469 polling units as potential flashpoints.

Despite the police directive restricting movement, many commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators in Ado-Ekiti continued their activities. Traders in major markets, such as Eleyele Market, Oja Oba Erekesan, and Oja Bisi, also opened for business. Reasons for non-compliance included one commercial motorcyclist's belief in an easy victory for the incumbent, a tricycle operator's economic realities and need to provide for his family, and a pepper and vegetable seller's necessity to prevent her perishable goods from spoiling. Some noted that security operatives were not strictly enforcing the restriction, encouraging them to continue working.

Voter turnout presented a mixed picture across the state. Police Commissioner Abayomi Shogunle described the early voter turnout within the first hour as unprecedented and high, aligning with pre-voting assessments. However, in Ilawe-Ekiti, low voter turnout was observed, with some residents engaged in commercial activities or house chores. A community leader, Chief Folorunso Ojo, suggested this might be due to a loss of faith in the electoral process, appealing to residents to exercise their civic responsibilities. Notably, a 98-year-old voter, Pa Joseph Adu, at Iyin-Ekiti, participated, stating he was inspired by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s principled politics.

The election process was marred by significant technical challenges with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). Former presidential aide Babafemi Ojudu reported that 30 minutes after accreditation began, the BVAS at his polling unit failed to capture his details, raising concerns about potential disenfranchisement. Similar issues were reported in other areas: in Oye Local Government Area, some voters could not cast ballots because the BVAS failed to capture their faces, with no manual accreditation available. In Ijero Local Government Area, a BVAS device stopped working after voting had commenced. Elderly voters in Ado Local Government also faced difficulties with the BVAS machine in capturing their fingerprints and facial features, leading to delays.

Allegations of process failures and intimidation were raised by the PDP governorship candidate, Wole Oluyede. After casting his vote at Ugele Arokun Ward 3, Unit 6 in Ikere-Ekiti, Mr Oluyede expressed frustration over slow accreditation, noting only five people had been accredited in 90 minutes. He suspected something was wrong with the INEC process and highlighted delays in technical support deployment. Furthermore, he alleged intimidation by security operatives near Ikere City Hall, stating there was an array of policemen harassing people, which he feared would prevent many residents from casting ballots.

Reports of vote-buying and incentives for voters were widespread. Observers from CJID noted party agents distributing cabin biscuits and drinks at a polling unit in Ido/Osi LGA. In Emure LGA, voters were seen writing their names after casting votes for incentives, and two women were observed directing voters to a designated location after taking down their names. An All Progressives Congress (APC) party agent in Ilejemeje LGA collected voters’ cards and documented details in a book. Additionally, a woman was seen giving money to a voter in Ijero LGA, and tally slips were issued to voters by party agents in Ikole East and Ado Ekiti LGAs, directing them to locations outside polling units for incentives.

In response to concerns about vote-buying, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) stormed Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s polling unit (003, Ward 06, Ikogosi, Ekiti West LGA) at approximately 9:08 a.m. About 10 EFCC operatives were observed monitoring the exercise, their presence indicating a focus on preventing financial inducements during the voting process.

Regarding an incident of violence, Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle clarified that reports linking unrest in Isan-Ekiti to the governorship election were incorrect. Late on Friday, violence had erupted in Isan-Ekiti, including an attack on a police station, leading to reports of political violence and one death by Isaac Fayose. However, Mr Shogunle confirmed that the incident was non-election/political related and instead stemmed from a community football match. He stated that containment and de-escalation measures were put in place, and voting proceeded as scheduled in the town.

Pa Joseph Adu, the nonagenarian voter, reflected on the past, noting that politicians of Awolowo’s era prioritized good governance with less security involvement, relying on good policies for followership. He acknowledged present leaders were trying their best but highlighted challenges like kidnapping and banditry, suggesting that citizens also have a role in supporting the government by exposing bad elements to strengthen the democratic system he has had confidence in since childhood.