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ADO-EKITI, NIGERIA — Preparations for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election and accompanying National Assembly by-elections have entered a crucial stage as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced the distribution of sensitive electoral materials across the state.
The movement of election materials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) facility in Ado-Ekiti began amid heightened security and intense logistical activities, with electoral officials sorting and dispatching ballot papers and other sensitive documents to all 16 local government areas.
Security personnel were deployed around the distribution centre to safeguard the materials and ensure a seamless operation ahead of Saturday’s polls.
Speaking on the exercise, Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, describing the distribution process as orderly and efficient.
According to him, arrangements have been put in place to ensure that all election materials arrive at their designated locations on schedule, thereby enabling election officials to commence polling activities without delay.
The commencement of material distribution came as INEC released updated voter statistics indicating a significant increase in electoral participation in the state.
According to figures provided by the Commission, the number of registered voters in Ekiti State has risen from 987,647 recorded during the 2023 elections to 1,059,360 in 2026, reflecting sustained growth in voter enrollment.
In a statement issued by Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, the electoral body disclosed that Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collection has also witnessed remarkable improvement.
The Commission revealed that 1,028,929 PVCs have been collected out of the 1,059,360 registered voters, representing approximately 97 percent collection rate and covering more than 97 percent of eligible voters in the state.
INEC further confirmed the successful conclusion of the PVC collection exercise conducted ahead of the governorship election.
The voter card distribution programme, initially scheduled to end on June 11, was extended by three additional days until June 14 following consultations with political parties, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
The extension, according to the Commission, enabled more eligible voters to obtain their cards before the election.
The electoral body also provided an update on requests for replacement voter cards submitted by citizens whose PVCs were lost, damaged, or defaced.
Invoking the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, INEC disclosed that it received 14,406 applications for PVC replacement within the approved period. The Commission confirmed that all replacement cards were successfully produced, with a majority already collected by applicants.
However, the Commission noted that plans to introduce downloadable electronic versions of replacement voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election due to incomplete technological infrastructure.
INEC assured voters that the digital replacement option remains under development and is expected to be introduced in future electoral exercises.
“The option of downloading replacement voter cards for lost, damaged or defaced PVCs could not be deployed for this election because the required technological infrastructure is yet to be fully completed,” the Commission stated.
It added that the innovation is expected to debut during forthcoming elections, including the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for August 2026 and the 2027 General Elections.
With sensitive materials now being moved to various parts of the state and voter card distribution concluded, attention is turning to Saturday’s governorship contest, which is expected to test the readiness of electoral authorities and the strength of democratic participation in Ekiti State.
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