The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Joash Amupitan, has said the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states will serve as a major test run and reflection of preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking on Friday at a meeting of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Ado Ekiti, Amupitan warned against the spread of misinformation and fake news capable of creating panic before, during, and after the elections.
He urged security agencies to remain vigilant against individuals or groups seeking to frustrate the electoral process, stressing that all stakeholders must work collectively to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.
“We must all make conscious efforts to ensure that this country works,” he said.
The INEC chairman noted that the commission remained committed to delivering free, fair, credible, and transparent elections that would genuinely reflect the will of the people of Ekiti State.
According to him, the commission had conducted comprehensive readiness assessments across selected local government areas and was satisfied with the level of preparedness so far.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC was currently configuring the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) to ensure optimal performance on election day, while recruitment of ad-hoc staff through the INECPRES portal had also advanced significantly.
“We are fully prepared for large-scale, professional deployment across all designated polling units,” he said.
He further revealed that Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) from the first and second phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise would soon be distributed across the 177 registration areas in Ekiti State to ensure no eligible voter was disenfranchised.
“Our mandate is to conduct an inclusive and transparent election, and we are determined that no eligible voter should be disenfranchised due to administrative bottlenecks,” he stated.
The INEC boss appealed to community leaders, civil society organisations, and political actors to mobilise residents to collect their PVCs before the end of the exercise.
On security arrangements, Amupitan described security agencies as the backbone of INEC’s field operations, noting that elections could not succeed without a safe and secure environment.
He said preliminary field assessments conducted in the state showed that security agencies had already mapped out personnel deployments, visibility patrols, and potential flashpoints.
According to him, representatives of the Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the military had assured the commission of robust security coverage before, during, and after the elections.
“Given the unique, hilly terrain of Ekiti State, seamless synergy among all security arms is non-negotiable,” he added.
Amupitan also disclosed that INEC had concluded logistics arrangements with the National Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) to facilitate the movement of personnel and sensitive election materials.
He said the commission had identified several high-risk local government areas and polling units vulnerable to electoral violence and criminal activities.
The affected areas include Ado Ekiti, Effon, Ekiti East, Ekiti South West, Emure, Ikere, Ikole, Ilejemeje, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Moba, and Oye local government areas, with threats ranging from thuggery and cultism to ballot snatching, kidnapping, and vandalism.
Amupitan disclosed that INEC had identified 469 polling units located within 500 metres of the risk-prone areas for special monitoring and security attention.
He referenced the November 2025 governorship election in Anambra State as a model of successful inter-agency collaboration, saying the Ekiti election should surpass that benchmark in terms of administrative and security efficiency.
“The Ekiti election must aim for an even higher standard of administrative and security efficiency,” he said.
The INEC chairman also issued a stern warning against vote-buying and voter inducement, revealing that the commission was collaborating with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to arrest offenders.
“Deployed security personnel must remain vigilant on the field and ensure they do not permit an environment where illegal financial transactions contaminate the voting process,” he warned.
He commended members of ICCES for their continued commitment to democratic governance and expressed confidence that the election would be successful if all stakeholders remained united and professional.
Also speaking, the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, Falade Micheal, assured residents that security agencies would provide maximum protection for voters, INEC officials, and electoral materials before, during, and after the polls.
He disclosed that the police were already providing security coverage for all INEC offices across the state but noted that most identified flashpoints were located in border communities.
The police commissioner identified misinformation and fake news as major threats capable of generating fear and tension among residents ahead of the election.
He called for the mobilisation of the National Orientation Agency to intensify public sensitisation campaigns and expressed confidence that the governorship election would be peaceful and hitch-free.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, described the ICCES meeting as timely and strategic given the importance of election security and intelligence sharing in the conduct of credible elections.
Omoseyindemi said the ICCES framework had strengthened coordination, professionalism, and intelligence sharing among security agencies and the commission.
He noted that INEC had intensified preparations through stakeholder engagements, assessment of risk and security concerns, review of logistics arrangements, training of election personnel, and sustained collaboration with political parties, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and the media.
Despite the progress recorded, he identified several challenges requiring urgent attention, including political violence, voter apathy, logistical difficulties, and the spread of disinformation.
“The spread of disinformation and fake news can be dangerous in creating tension and distrust among the people,” he said, while also expressing concern over the role of some political actors in encouraging violence.
He stressed the need for improved protection of electoral personnel and facilities throughout the election period and warned that transportation and logistical constraints could affect timely deployment of election materials and personnel if not properly addressed.
