The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has revealed that the number of voters in Ekiti State has increased from about 900,000 recorded during the 2023 elections to 1,059,360 voters in 2026, following the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
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Chairman of INEC, Joash Amupitan, disclosed this on Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti during the official publication of the voters’ register and presentation to political parties for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in the state.
The INEC boss noted that the publication of the voters’ register marked a critical constitutional and statutory step toward the governorship poll.
Amupitan, however, warned political parties participating in the election to refrain from vote buying and other forms of electoral inducement.
He said vote trading remained one of the biggest challenges confronting elections in Nigeria, urging parties and their supporters to avoid actions capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
He stressed that political parties must demonstrate commitment to democratic values by conducting issue-based campaigns and avoiding monetary inducements to voters.
“One of the major challenges and constraints to our electoral process is the issue of vote buying or vote trading. This is a criminal offence under the Electoral Act, and it is the responsibility of law enforcement agencies, especially the EFCC, ICPC, and the police, to ensure that those involved are arrested and promptly prosecuted.
“We urge all political parties to refrain from vote trading because it is a big minus to the electoral process in Nigeria.
“We shall be signing the peace accord tomorrow. The election must be run peacefully, and campaigns must be based on issues and not on personality. Let us walk the talk.
“The voters’ register is the foundation upon which free, fair, and credible elections are built. Its accuracy, completeness, and integrity are paramount to ensuring that every eligible voter’s voice is heard.”
Earlier, the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omosehinmi, said the state office of the commission had intensified preparations for the governorship election through stakeholder engagements, voter education campaigns, security coordination, training of personnel, and deployment of election technology.
The REC noted that arrangements for logistics, BVAS deployment, transportation, and distribution of sensitive materials had also been strengthened to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and inclusive election across the state’s 16 local government areas.
He appealed to political parties, candidates, and supporters to conduct themselves responsibly and comply strictly with the Electoral Act and guidelines issued by the commission.
Present at the presentation of the voters’ register were representatives of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord Party, and African Democratic Congress (ADC), among others.
Governor Ademola Adeleke is seeking a second term in office on the platform of the Accord Party.
