By Myke Uzendu
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, on Friday said the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states would serve as a major test for preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during a meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Ado-Ekiti, Amupitan warned against the spread of misinformation and fake news capable of creating panic before, during and after the elections.
He also urged security agencies to remain vigilant against individuals or groups seeking to disrupt the electoral process, stressing the need for collective efforts to ensure the success of Nigeria’s democracy.
“We must all make conscious efforts to ensure that this country works,” he said.
The INEC chairman assured stakeholders that the commission remained committed to conducting free, fair and credible elections that would reflect the choices of voters in Ekiti State.
According to him, readiness assessments conducted across selected local government areas indicated that preparations were on course, with the commission currently configuring the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and advancing recruitment of ad hoc staff through the INECPRES portal.
Amupitan disclosed that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for voters captured during the first and second phases of Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) would soon be distributed across the 177 registration areas in the state.
“To guarantee that no eligible citizen is left behind, the commission will soon deliver the PVCs across all wards in Ekiti State. Our mandate is to conduct an inclusive and transparent election, and we are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised due to administrative bottlenecks,” he said.
He appealed to community leaders, civil society organisations and political actors to mobilise eligible voters to collect their PVCs before the exercise ends.
The INEC chairman described security agencies as critical to the success of electoral operations, noting that effective logistics and field operations depend on a secure environment.
He said preliminary assessments showed security agencies had developed deployment plans, visibility patrols and tactical responses to potential flashpoints across the state.
Representatives of the police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military, he said, had assured the commission of adequate security before, during and after the polls.
Amupitan revealed that INEC had completed a risk analysis of all local government areas in Ekiti and identified several high-risk zones prone to thuggery, kidnapping, cultism, vandalism and ballot snatching.
The identified local government areas include Ado-Ekiti, Effon, Ekiti East, Ekiti South-West, Emure, Ikere, Ikole, Ilejemeje, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Moba and Oye.
He said 469 polling units located within 500 metres of identified risk areas had been mapped out for closer monitoring.
The INEC chairman further warned against vote-buying, describing voter inducement as a major threat to credible elections.
He said the commission was working with anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, to apprehend offenders.
“Any attempt to disrupt the level playing field through vote buying before or during the election must be aggressively resisted and neutralised,” he said.
He urged deployed security personnel to prevent illegal financial transactions capable of compromising the electoral process.
Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Falade Micheal, assured residents that security agencies would provide maximum protection before, during and after the election.
He disclosed that police personnel were already securing INEC offices across the state, although many identified flashpoints were located in border communities.
The police commissioner identified misinformation and fake news as major concerns, warning that they could heighten fear and tension among residents.
He called for intensified public sensitisation campaigns by the National Orientation Agency to counter disinformation ahead of the election.
Also speaking, the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the ICCES meeting as timely and strategic given the importance of election security and intelligence sharing.
According to him, the commission had intensified preparations through stakeholder engagements, logistics reviews, training of election personnel and continuous consultations with political parties, traditional rulers, civil society groups and the media.
Omoseyindemi, however, raised concerns over persistent challenges, including misinformation, political violence, threats against electoral personnel, transportation difficulties and voter apathy fuelled by declining confidence in the electoral process.
He stressed the need for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in Ekiti State.
