Every Valid Vote Will Count: INEC Assures Ekiti Stakeholders Ahead June 20 Gov Poll  

By Joseph Sunday

Exactly nine days to the Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has assured stakeholders that “every valid vote will count” on Saturday, June 20, 2026.

Speaking at a Stakeholders’ Forum in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, Prof. Amupitan described the engagement as a “covenant of absolute transparency” and said INEC is “logistically, technologically, and operationally prepared” for the poll.

Amupitan announced a final register of 1,059,360 voters after INEC’s Automated Biometric Identification System removed 2,103 double registrations. Voting will hold across 2,445 Polling Units in 16 LGAs and 117 wards.

He confirmed that transport arrangements with RTEAN and NURTW are being finalized to ensure all polling units open simultaneously at 8:30 a.m. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will remain the sole tool for accreditation, with the Chairman reiterating INEC’s stance: “No PVC, No Accreditation, No Voting.” All polling unit results will be uploaded to the IReV portal in real time.

For inclusivity, INEC will deploy Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses for voters with disabilities.

While commending the 13 political parties for signing a Peace Accord on May 21, 2026, Amupitan warned that it “must not be treated as a decorative ceremonial exercise.”

Co-Chairman of Inter – Agency Consultative Committee On Election Security (ICCES) who also doubled as the Commissioner of Police in Ekiti State, CP Falade Adegoroye Michael, pledged professionalism and impartiality from security agencies. 

He released a control hotline — 0806233537 — for public tips. The EFCC and ICPC will also deploy personnel to curb vote-buying within polling unit perimeters. 

INEC has accredited 91 media organisations with 675 journalists and 98 observer groups — 96 domestic and 2 international. Amupitan urged the press to “resist sensationalism” and called on observers to remain neutral.

Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi said non-sensitive materials have been received, with sensitive materials set for deployment next week. Training of ad-hoc staff is ongoing, alongside engagement with traditional rulers.

IPAC Chairman in Ekiti, Mr. Adeniji Akinropo, appealed for peace and rejected “winner-takes-all” politics, urging candidates to see one another as “friends and brothers” in a homogenous state.

Prof. Amupitan noted that six legislative bye-elections will hold the same day in Enugu, Nasarawa, Rivers, Ondo, Kano, and Kebbi states, with identical BVAS and security standards.

He closed with a reaffirmation of INEC’s neutrality: “We hold no preferred candidates, and we answer to no political interest. Our solitary alignment is with the law and the sovereign will of the Nigerian people.”