With less than a month to the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, security agencies, electoral officials, traditional rulers and religious leaders have intensified calls for peaceful conduct, warning politicians and voters against violence, vote buying and other acts capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy.
The stakeholders gave the warning during the Ekiti Decides Citizens’ Town Hall Meeting held in Ado-Ekiti on Sunday, describing the forthcoming governorship poll as a critical test of the country’s electoral credibility and democratic maturity.
Speaking at the forum, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, assured residents that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was fully prepared to conduct a free, fair and credible election.
According to him, over one million eligible voters have been registered across the state, while major preparations including recruitment of ad hoc staff, voter education, logistics coordination and stakeholder engagements had reached advanced stages.
The REC disclosed that only the delivery of sensitive election materials remained outstanding ahead of the exercise.
Omoseyindemi also announced that distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) would commence on June 5 and continue for two weeks, urging registered voters to visit their respective local government collection centres to obtain their cards.
He stressed that only legitimate owners of PVCs would be accredited to vote, insisting that the credibility of the election depended on collective responsibility and public cooperation.
The REC further noted that INEC’s collaboration with media organisations and civil society groups, particularly through the International Press Centre (IPC), had helped in addressing misinformation and disinformation capable of threatening the electoral process.
He added that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) were also being adequately considered to ensure inclusiveness and equal participation during the election.
On election security, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Falade Adegoroye Michael, revealed that more than 11,000 police personnel would be deployed across the state to guarantee peaceful conduct of the poll.
The police commissioner said additional security operatives were expected to arrive before June 18 to strengthen security presence in identified flashpoints.
He warned political thugs and other criminal elements against disrupting the electoral process, vowing that security agencies would decisively deal with anyone found engaging in violence or electoral malpractice.
Michael also disclosed that officers deployed for election duties would carry proper identification tags, except operatives attached to undercover units, while providing the police emergency control room number, 08062335577, for emergency response during the election period.
Earlier, the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Barr.) Sir Stephen Babatunde Adegboyega Alabi, said the town hall meeting became necessary to promote peace, political tolerance and responsible conduct among political actors and their supporters.
The monarch described the thirteen governorship candidates as sons and daughters of Ekiti State, expressing optimism that the amended Electoral Act and ongoing electoral reforms would further strengthen democratic governance in Nigeria.
Oba Alabi urged politicians, voters and security agencies to conduct themselves responsibly before, during and after the election in order to preserve the peace and integrity of the state.
Religious leaders at the event also appealed to voters to reject vote buying, violence and electoral apathy.
Representing the League of Imams and Alfas in Ekiti State, Imam Aliyu Kolawole Rasaq, who spoke on behalf of Alhaji Kewulere Bello, said Islam promotes peace, justice and accountability, stressing that electoral violence and malpractice were contrary to religious teachings.
Similarly, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Ekiti State, Reverend Emmanuel Aribasoye, urged Christians to participate actively in the electoral process, describing voting as both a civic and moral responsibility.
Also speaking, the Ekiti State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs. Oluwakemi Akomolede, alongside representatives of the Women Trust Fund, raised concerns over vote buying, insecurity and transportation challenges confronting Persons With Disabilities during elections.
They, however, encouraged citizens not to compromise their votes or lose confidence in the democratic process, emphasizing that active public participation remained essential to achieving a peaceful, transparent and widely accepted governorship election in Ekiti State.