Ekiti IPAC Heads to Court Over Amotekun Deployment for Governorship Election

In a bid to ensure the integrity of the forthcoming governorship election in Ekiti State, the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has resolved to challenge the planned deployment of state-owned security outfits, including Amotekun and anti-grazing units, for election duty. According to the IPAC State Chairman, Phillip Adeniji, the council has concluded plans to sue the state government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prevent the use of these unconventional security outfits. Adeniji stated that IPAC lawyers had written a letter to the necessary parties on June 3, titled 'Notice of intention to challenge the proposed inclusion of Ekiti State-owned security agencies in conduct of forthcoming 2026 Ekiti State governorship election on June 20'. The IPAC chairman expressed concerns that the deployment of these security outfits could lead to harassment and coercion of voters, thereby compromising the credibility of the election. Adeniji emphasized that the council's primary objective is to ensure that the election is transparent, acceptable, and credible. To achieve this, IPAC is reaching out to members of different political parties and platforms to educate them on the negative impact of vote-buying and its potential to produce the wrong candidates. The council is urging the people of Ekiti to come out in their numbers, cast their votes, and protect their votes to ensure that the result reflects the interests of the masses. Adeniji said, 'If people are not harassed or intimidated, if they are allowed to vote according to their conscience and there is no vote-buying, voting will be transparent, acceptable and credible.'