Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan (SAN), has assured stakeholders in Ekiti State that the Commission is fully prepared to conduct a credible, transparent and inclusive governorship election on June 20, 2026.
Speaking on Thursday at the Stakeholders’ Forum on the Ekiti State Governorship Election in Ado-Ekiti, Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to ensuring that every valid vote cast during the election counts.
The INEC chairman told political parties, security agencies, traditional rulers, civil society organisations, media representatives and other stakeholders that all necessary arrangements had been concluded to guarantee a successful electoral process.
According to him, a total of 1,059,360 registered voters are expected to participate in the election across the state’s 16 Local Government Areas, 117 Registration Areas (Wards), and 2,445 Polling Units.
He disclosed that the voter register includes 66,664 new registrants captured during the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, while 2,103 invalid registrations were removed through the Commission’s Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to improve the integrity of the register.
Amupitan said logistics preparations were at an advanced stage, with plans in place to ensure that all polling units commence operations simultaneously by 8:30 a.m. on election day. He added that election materials had been prepared, ad hoc personnel trained, and deployment plans activated in line with the Commission’s timetable.
The INEC chairman reiterated that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) would be used for voter accreditation across all polling units, while results from polling units would be uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to enhance transparency and public confidence in the process.
He also highlighted measures aimed at promoting inclusivity, including the provision of Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses to assist visually impaired voters and persons with albinism.
On security, Amupitan said the Commission was working closely with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and other security agencies to maintain a peaceful environment before, during and after the election.
He further disclosed that INEC was collaborating with anti-corruption agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, to combat vote-buying and other electoral offences.
To ensure broad and transparent coverage of the election, the Commission has accredited 91 media organisations, with 675 journalists approved to cover the poll. Additionally, 98 observer groups, comprising 96 domestic and two international organisations, have been accredited to monitor the election.
Amupitan also announced that alongside the Ekiti governorship election, INEC will conduct six legislative bye-elections in the states of Enugu State, Nasarawa State, Rivers State, Ondo State, Kano State and Kebbi State on the same day.
The reassurance comes as political parties and voters intensify preparations for what is expected to be a closely watched governorship contest in Ekiti State.
