Author: Gabby

The Ekiti State governorship election has commenced, with early results now emerging from various polling units across the state. Voting officially ended at 2pm, but individuals still in line at that time were permitted to cast their ballots. DAILY POST is providing real-time updates as votes are tallied.

This election saw 1.06 million registered voters, with an impressive 97.1% collection rate of Permanent Voter Cards. The process covered 2,445 polling units spread across 177 wards and 16 local government areas. A total of 14 candidates competed for the governorship seat.

Here are the initial results from some polling units:

In Ugele/Akoku ward 3, PU003, Ikere LGA: APC secured 104 votes, PDP garnered 80, and ADC received 2. There were 9 invalid ballots, bringing the total votes cast to 195 out of 522 registered voters.

At PU005, ward 06, Olope/Emila, Ijero LGA: APC led with 143 votes, followed by ADC at 14, and PDP at 10.

For PU011, ward 06, Oko-Agba, Ijero LGA: APC obtained 117 votes, ADC had 9, and PDP managed 8. The same unit reported identical figures in a subsequent tally.

These results will continue to update as more polling units complete their counts.

In a commanding performance during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), secured a landslide victory at the polling unit of Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele.

According to the Presiding Officer, Mrs. Elizabeth Oregbemeh, Oyebanji garnered 164 votes, leaving his closest competitor, Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with only eight votes. The Action Democratic Party (ADP) candidate, Mr. Ayodeji Ojo, managed a single vote.

Earlier, Senator Bamidele praised the electoral process, noting that voter turnout across the state was commendable. He also lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the prompt dispatch of electoral staff and voting materials to all 16 local government areas in Ekiti.

INEC reported that the state has 1,059,360 registered voters, with 1,028,929 having collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) ahead of the election.

Civil society organizations operating under the European Union Support for Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) umbrella have issued a strong appeal to political parties and candidates participating in the Ekiti State governorship election. The groups, through the Election Observation Hub, emphasized the need to refrain from voter inducement and to uphold democratic principles throughout the electoral process.

In a preliminary election assessment released in Ado-Ekiti, the coalition warned against the weaponization of poverty through vote buying. They stressed that voters must be allowed to exercise their franchise freely, without coercion or financial enticements. The statement was presented by representatives including Samson Itodo of Yiaga Africa, Asabe Ndahi from the Kukah Centre, Akin Akingbulu of CEMESO, Lanre Arogundade of the International Press Centre (IPC), Brenda Anugwom of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, and Jake Epelle of TAF Africa.

Among the key recommendations, the groups urged political actors to desist from turning poverty into a tool for electoral manipulation. They also called on parties to restrain their agents from engaging in unruly behavior at polling units and collation centers, urge supporters to remain law-abiding and avoid thuggery or violence, and respect the eventual choice of the Ekiti people.

The assessment noted that these are preliminary observations based on information available as of 2 p.m. on the election day. The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub pledged to continue monitoring the voting process, collation, and announcement of results, with a further statement expected at the conclusion of the election.

During the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, a dramatic incident unfolded as voters in Iyin-Ekiti forcefully drove away operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Saturday. The anti-graft agency had deployed its personnel to a polling unit with the intention of monitoring and cracking down on suspected vote-buying activities.

The presence of EFCC officers sparked anger among voters, who questioned their deployment and demanded their immediate exit. The situation escalated, leading to the operatives being chased away, allowing the voting process to continue without further interruption.

This event took place amid widespread allegations of massive vote buying across various parts of Ekiti State during the governorship race. Observers noted that the incident highlights tensions around electoral integrity and the enforcement of anti-corruption measures in the region.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has addressed the delay in officially presenting former Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi as the running mate to its presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar. According to the party, the postponement stems from Atiku’s ongoing business travel abroad.

Abdulrasheed Shehu, a media aide to Atiku, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday to clarify the situation. He dismissed rumors suggesting internal strife within the ADC or Amaechi’s reluctance to accept the offer. Shehu stated that the pairing is finalized and that Amaechi will be unveiled shortly after Atiku returns from his trip.

The confirmation comes amid conflicting reports and initial skepticism following the ADC’s announcement of its presidential ticket for the 2027 election. Earlier, party officials had refrained from immediate confirmation, leading to speculation. Shehu urged the public to disregard what he termed as fake news, emphasizing that the ticket is settled and the unveiling is imminent.

The lawmaker representing Ekiti North Federal Constituency II, Kolawole David Akinlayo, has voiced strong confidence in the ruling party’s prospects during the ongoing governorship election in Ekiti State. He noted significant voter participation across his district and widespread support for Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s bid for a second term.

Akinlayo made these remarks while addressing the media after casting his ballot at Igogo Ward 2, Polling Unit 16, located in Ikosun-Ekiti, Moba Local Government Area. He emphasized that citizens turned out in force to back the incumbent governor, who is seeking re-election under the party’s banner.

The legislator attributed the impressive turnout to effective grassroots mobilization and intensive campaigning conducted by party officials in the lead-up to the election. He pointed out that extensive efforts were made across all three local government areas within his constituency to educate residents on the value of voting and to rally support for the governor’s re-election.

In a bid to ease economic strain and encourage voter participation, Akinlayo disclosed that he distributed food supplies to constituents in those local government areas on the eve of the election. He expressed belief that the people would reciprocate the party’s dedication by casting their votes for Oyebanji.

“Our party’s candidate is the sitting governor, who is vying for a second tenure, and the electorate is eager to re-elect him. We have campaigned vigorously, and yesterday we urged them to turn out early to support our candidate. I am confident they have done so and will continue to do so because they trust us and will vote for the governor,” Akinlayo stated.

The prominent rights activist and chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Aisha Yesufu, has stirred controversy with her latest remarks on electoral practices in Nigeria. During the weekend, she criticized the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for failing to address vote-buying and other electoral malpractices effectively.

Responding to reports of widespread vote-buying in the Ekiti State governorship election, Yesufu argued that the practice should be legalized. She took to X, formerly Twitter, to voice her frustration, stating that the current situation punishes only law-abiding citizens while offenders go free.

According to Yesufu, the EFCC appears to turn a blind eye during elections, allowing vote-buying to flourish. She proposed a radical shift: instead of candidates wasting resources on expensive campaigns, they could simply bargain for votes on election day. The highest spender would win, making the process more transparent and saving money. She described the current state of affairs as absurd and called for an end to the hypocrisy.

Meanwhile, the Ekiti governorship election has been marred by allegations of malpractice. Dare Bejide, the ADC governorship candidate, claimed that vote-buying and money-sharing occurred openly at his polling unit, with police and INEC officials seemingly unresponsive. These allegations have sparked further debate about the integrity of the electoral process.