INEC Presents Register of 1,059,360 Voters For Ekiti Governorship Election

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday intensified preparations for the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State with the formal presentation of the state’s register of voters to political parties ahead of the poll.

The register, which contains a total of 1,059,360 registered voters, was presented during a stakeholders’ meeting in Ado-Ekiti attended by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Ojo Amupitan, National Commissioners, political parties and other electoral stakeholders.

Speaking at the event, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the visit by the INEC leadership underscored the Commission’s commitment to ensuring adequate preparation and successful conduct of the election.

He disclosed that the Ekiti State office had made “steady progress in all aspects of electoral preparation,” adding that the Commission was working closely with security agencies, political parties, traditional institutions, civil society organisations and the media to ensure a peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent poll.

According to him, the publication and presentation of the register of voters was in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act and the Commission’s timetable for the election.
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“This also reflects the commitment of the Commission to transparency, accountability and fairness,” Omoseyindemi stated, urging political parties to make lawful and effective use of the register in preparation for the election.

The REC listed measures already put in place to include assessment and validation of Registration Area Centres (RACs), Super RACs and polling units across the state, regular engagements with security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, training and retraining of electoral officers, as well as intensified voter education campaigns across the 16 local government areas.

He further revealed that logistics deployment had been strengthened, while inspection and regeneration checks on election technologies, including the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), were ongoing.

Omoseyindemi said the Commission was also finalising recruitment and training of ad hoc staff, testing and deployment of BVAS machines, coordination meetings with transport providers and security agencies, as well as contingency planning to address possible operational challenges on election day.

“As we move closer to election day, I wish to appeal to all political parties, candidates and their supporters to continue to conduct themselves peacefully and responsibly,” he said.

He stressed that the success of the election would depend on collective commitment to democratic values, peaceful engagement and strict compliance with the Electoral Act and INEC guidelines.

“Ekiti State is known for political maturity and democratic participation and we must all work together to sustain that reputation before, during and after the election,” he added.

In his remarks, the Supervising National Commissioner, Mr. Sam Olumekun, commended Ekiti State for its electoral record.

“In the last four election cycles, Ekiti State has always been the very first state to announce results of elections and there has been no acrimony whatsoever,” he said.

Olumekun explained that the voters register presented to political parties was a product of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, claims and objections process, as well as data-cleaning measures aimed at removing duplicate, ineligible and deceased registrants.

He assured stakeholders that INEC remained committed to neutrality, transparency and adherence to the law.
“No eligible voter has been disenfranchised and no ineligible name will be allowed on the voter register,” he declared.

Speaking further, the INEC Chairman, Prof. Amupitan, described the event as “very unique and important,” noting that it was rare for a state to host the INEC Chairman alongside almost all National Commissioners for the presentation of the register.

“The Electoral Act requires that 30 days before the election, the register of voters must be published and presented to political parties,” he said.

Amupitan disclosed that out of nine major activities contained in the election timetable released last year, seven had already been completed successfully, while campaigns for the election would officially end on June 18 ahead of the June 20 poll.

He described the register of voters as “the foundation upon which free, fair and credible elections are built,” stressing that its integrity and accuracy were essential to ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice was heard.

According to him, the register was compiled after “rigorous data collection, total verification and diligent cleaning exercises.”

“We had about 900,000 registered voters in Ekiti State, but as a result of the Continuous Voter Registration, the number has increased to about 1,059,360,” he disclosed.

“We would like to have a credible and reliable register,” he added.
The INEC Chairman stressed that the responsibility of conducting a successful election should not rest solely on the Commission.

“It is the responsibility of INEC to conduct free, credible and transparent elections, but INEC cannot do it alone. It is a shared responsibility,” he stated.

Amupitan also urged political parties to mobilise voters for the election, assuring residents that their votes would count.
“I want to assure you that your vote will count,” he reiterated, citing previous elections where results were promptly uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).

The INEC Chairman, however, expressed concern over the growing menace of vote buying and vote trading, describing them as major threats to Nigeria’s electoral process.

“This is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act,” he warned, adding that agencies such as the EFCC, ICPC and the Nigeria Police must ensure offenders were arrested and prosecuted.

Presenting an analysis of the register, the Director of Voter Registry, Olatunde G. Olalere, confirmed that newly registered voters had been integrated with the existing register used for the 2023 General Election.

He announced that the total number of registered voters for the 2026 Ekiti Governorship Election stood at 1,059,360.
Also speaking, the Director of ICT, Dr. Lawrence Bayode, highlighted technological innovations to be deployed for the election, noting that the use of BVAS and the INEC Result Viewing Portal represented “a significant step in advancing election transparency and credibility.”

At the climax of the event, copies of the register of voters were formally presented to political parties participating in the governorship election by the INEC Chairman.

Following the stakeholders’ meeting, Prof. Amupitan also met with INEC staff in the state, where he commended them for their commitment and urged them to intensify preparations for the election.

“The reward of hard work is more work,” he told the staff, while stressing the need for unity and professionalism among officials across the 16 local government areas.
He directed that RAC centres must be activated 24 hours before the election and emphasised the importance of timely deployment of logistics and adequate security for personnel and election materials.

“We will do everything possible for the successful conduct of the election,” he assured.

The INEC Chairman also disclosed that efforts were ongoing to improve the welfare, salary structure and working conditions of INEC personnel across the country.