Ekiti Governorship Election: Sensitive Materials Deployment Underway, Security Beefed Up

With only two days remaining until the Ekiti State governorship election on June 20, security agencies, electoral personnel, and civil society organisations have significantly ramped up their preparations for what is expected to be one of Nigeria's most closely observed off-cycle polls. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to begin moving sensitive election materials to the state's 16 local government areas today, Thursday. Concurrently, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has deployed 10,000 personnel, and the Nigeria Police Force has activated an extensive security framework to safeguard the electoral exercise.

These intensified preparations follow the Court of Appeal's constitution of the Ekiti State Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, and the Nigerian Air Force's (NAF) confirmation of successfully airlifting sensitive electoral materials to support both the Ekiti election and other by-elections slated for the same date. These developments highlight the increasing efforts by electoral and security bodies to guarantee a peaceful, transparent, and credible election amidst heightened political activities across the state. Ekiti voters are set to elect a governor from 13 political parties contesting across the state's 16 local government areas, 177 wards, and over 2,000 polling units. The election is widely considered a crucial political test ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, confirmed to The PUNCH on Wednesday that the commission would commence the distribution of sensitive materials to local government areas on Thursday. These materials include ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machines, and voter registers, among other essential components required for the poll. Omoseyindemi reiterated the commission’s readiness for the exercise, asserting that all necessary arrangements had been finalised. “We (INEC) have done most of the things we need to do,” the REC stated. He had earlier assured stakeholders of the commission's comprehensive preparedness to conduct a transparent, credible, and acceptable election, adding that voting would promptly begin at polling units across the state. The REC also disclosed that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed in advance of the election. This movement of sensitive materials marks a crucial stage in the commission’s election timetable and is expected to be closely monitored by political parties, election observers, and security agencies.

To ensure the timely delivery of these critical items, the Nigerian Air Force confirmed its successful airlift of sensitive electoral materials on behalf of INEC. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, the Director of Public Relations and Information, stated in a Wednesday release that this operation occurred between June 15 and 16, following a request from the electoral commission. According to him, the mission was designed to guarantee the secure and prompt transportation of election materials from Abuja to designated locations nationwide. He clarified that the operation covered preparations for the Ekiti governorship election, as well as senatorial by-elections in Enugu North Senatorial District of Enugu State, Nasarawa North Senatorial District of Nasarawa State, and Rivers South-East Senatorial District of Rivers State.

The airlift also provided support for federal constituency by-elections in the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano State and the Zuru/Shanga Federal Constituency of Kebbi State. Ejodame noted that the Air Force deployed its strategic airlift assets to transport the materials from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to specific airports. He quoted, “Leveraging its strategic airlift capabilities, the NAF transported the sensitive electoral materials from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to designated airports in Enugu, Rivers and Kano States, ensuring that INEC received the materials within the stipulated timeline ahead of the elections.” Air Marshal Sunday Kelvin Aneke, the Chief of the Air Staff, commended the personnel involved in the operation. “The successful airlift underscores the Service’s unwavering commitment to supporting democratic institutions and national development,” Aneke affirmed. He added that the Air Force remains dedicated to providing support to civil authorities whenever necessary. He further stated that the operation demonstrated the long-standing partnership between the military and INEC in ensuring credible elections.

As electoral materials reached the state, security agencies simultaneously rolled out extensive operational plans aimed at preventing violence and maintaining order throughout the pre-election, election, and post-election periods. Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle, in charge of the governorship election security, has already assumed duty and commenced implementing election security protocols approved by the Inspector-General of Police. This was disclosed in a statement on Wednesday by Sunday Abutu, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti State.

Abutu explained that the operational measures include intelligence gathering, deployment planning, and coordination with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). He stated that the police have intensified intelligence mapping to identify and neutralize potential threats, including political violence, cult-related activities, thuggery, and misinformation campaigns. He further explained that the police were also implementing plans for the secured movement of electoral materials and personnel engaged by INEC.

“The protocols are towards ensuring adequate provision of security and robust collaboration with sister security agencies and election stakeholders. These include intelligence mapping to neutralise political violence, anti-thuggery, anti-cult related activities, counter-misinformation campaigns/initiatives, robust planning for secured movement of electoral materials and staff/persons engaged by the Independent National Electoral Commission,” he said. The police spokesman further stated that a centralised operational framework had been established to coordinate rapid response mechanisms and joint deployments across the state.

According to Abutu, the security architecture is designed to protect polling units, collation centres, electoral personnel, voters, election observers, journalists, and critical infrastructure. Abutu affirmed, “Ekiti State Police Command had put in place a centralised operational framework to coordinate rapid response and joint deployments of security personnel under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to adequately secure all polling units, collation centres, designated facilities for the election, voters, electoral workers, observers/monitors, journalists and critical infrastructures across the state.” Shogunle also assured residents that officers deployed for election duties had been adequately briefed and would operate strictly within the provisions of the Constitution and the Electoral Act. He said security personnel were being strategically positioned in identified flashpoints to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

The police chief called on political actors, community leaders, and residents to cooperate with security agencies in ensuring a peaceful electoral process. He also assured citizens of the police's commitment to protecting lives and property throughout the election period. Separately, the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Anthony Placid, told The PUNCH that arrangements for police deployment had been concluded. “Deployment has been done. From June 17th (Wednesday), men will be on the ground. To ensure that there is a free, fair and credible election. I can’t give you the figure,” he stated.

Complementing police efforts, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps also announced a massive deployment, further bolstering the security architecture for the upcoming election.