Anxiety as 37 candidates battle for 7 seats in Ekiti, Enugu, River, Kano, others

•INEC distributes sensitive materials assures of credible exercises •Police map 460 flash-points in Ekiti, vow iron-fist on riggers, violence

•APC has failed Ekiti—Mark, Aregbesola, back ADC candidate“ 

By Clifford Ndujihe, Dayo Johnson, Rotimi Ojomoyela, Dennis Agbo, Davies Iheamnachor, Haruna Aliyu, Edwin Philip & Hadiza Yusuf

WITH conclusion of campaigns by parties and candidates, and distribution of sensitive election materials by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the stage is set for tomorrow’s off-cycle governorship poll in Ekiti State; four senatorial, one House of Representatives and one state assembly polls across six states.

The Senatorial polls will be held in Enugu, Ondo, Nasarawa and Rivers states while the House of Representatives and state assembly bye-elections will be held in Kano and Kebbi respectively.

The Police and security agencies have read the riot act to would-be trouble-makers and election riggers and vowed to deal with them mercilessly.

INEC moves sensitive materials

In Ekiti, the electoral commission, yesterday, commenced distribution of sensitive election materials to all the16 local government areas. The exercise started at 1:25a.m. at the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN office in Ado-Ekiti, under close guard by the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.

Distribution began with councils farthest from the state capital — Ilejemeje, Ayekire, Ido-Osi, Ijero, Ikole, Ekiti East, and Emure.

Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, assured stakeholders of INEC’s full readiness, urging voters to come out peacefully and perform their civic duty.

“The process is being carried out in a transparent manner in the presence of security agencies, political parties, observers, and other stakeholders,” he said.

Police map 460 flashpoints in Ekiti, vow iron-fist on vote-buying, thuggery

The Commissioner of Police for the Ekiti governorship election, Mr Abayomi Shogunle, declared zero tolerance for vote-buying, political thuggery, and electoral violence ahead of the poll, warning that security agencies would deal decisively with offenders.

460 Flash-points 

Shogunle, who spoke at a media engagement organised by the International Press Centre, IPC, in Ado-Ekiti, said no fewer than 460 flashpoints had been identified across the state’s 16 LGAs and that deployments had been scaled up at those locations to prevent breakdown of law and order.

He said the security operation follows a multi-layered framework approved by the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, tailored to address specific threats across different parts of the state.

“We have deployed more security personnel to the identified 460 flashpoints. With the security architecture we have on the ground, I am confident that this election will be violence-free,” Shogunle said.

Border surveillance, voter movement restrictions

The CP disclosed that surveillance had been intensified at all entry and exit points into Ekiti, particularly along borders with Kogi and Kwara states. He also announced restrictions on vehicular movement on election day, advising voters to trek to polling units, with only accredited officials on essential duties exempted.

Armed police teams would be stationed at strategic points for rapid response, while all 2,445 polling units and collation centres across the state would be fully protected, he assured.

Vote-buying biggest threat to Ekiti poll — Yiaga Africa

Meanwhile, Civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, has identified vote-buying as the single biggest threat to the credibility of Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, urging security agencies and anti-corruption bodies to take proactive measures against the menace.

Speaking at a pre-election briefing in Ado-Ekiti, the Chair of Yiaga Africa’s Ekiti Election Observation Mission, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, said that while preparations had largely progressed smoothly, vote trading remained capable of undermining the integrity of the process.

Abdullahi expressed concern over lingering security challenges in hotspot local government areas, including Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Oye, and Ikere, and raised particular alarm over Ilejemeje and Moba, where recent kidnapping incidents could affect the safe movement of voters, officials, and observers — especially after 7p.m.

Media, PWD inclusion

Also, the International Press Centre, IPC, urged journalists covering the election to maintain strict non-partisanship and ensure they were properly accredited and identified to avoid confrontations with security personnel.

In a related development, TAF Africa deployed 150 observers — including persons with disabilities (PWDs) — to monitor inclusive participation across polling units. Assistant Programme Manager George Dominic Anwayi said the deployment was guided by data on polling units where PWDs are registered, and that observers would assess whether INEC’s assistive provisions — including Braille ballot guides and magnifying glasses – were effectively utilised.

APC has failed Ekiti – Mark, Aregbesola, back ADC candidate

Ahead of the election, Former Senate President and National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor and National Secretary of the party, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, have berated the All Progressives Congress, APC, government in Ekiti State, declaring that it had failed residents and would not survive a free and fair governorship election on June 20.

Both leaders spoke at a mega rally in Ado-Ekiti, where thousands of supporters gathered ahead of the off-cycle governorship poll.

Mark urged Ekiti residents to rally behind the ADC candidate, Ambassador Dare Bejide, describing him as the only candidate capable of rescuing the state from poverty.

Aregbesola dismissed suggestions that ADC lacked the strength to challenge the ruling party, warning APC against underestimating the opposition.

“If they truly want to go to the poll without writing results, they can never win that election. Warn him so that he won’t waste his money,” he said.

Both leaders insisted ADC would emerge victorious if the process was transparent.

Tight security in Enugu, Rivers

For Enugu North and Rivers South-East senatorial bye-elections, security agencies and the INEC have moved to reassure voters, promising tight but peaceful electoral processes in both zones.

In Enugu, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Mamman Giwa, has ordered the restriction of human and vehicular movement from midnight to 6p.m. on Friday across the six local government areas that make up the Enugu North Senatorial District — Igbo-Etiti, Igbo Eze North, Igbo Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu, and Uzo-Uwani.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Daniel Ndukwe, who disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, said the restriction excludes electoral officials and persons on verifiable essential duties, adding that the measure was designed to guarantee an orderly and credible process.

Ndukwe said that on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, additional officers had been drafted from Police Zone 13 Headquarters, Ukpo; Anambra State Police Command; Police College Oji River; and Police Detective College, Enugu -in addition to personnel from other security agencies operating in the state.  He warned that ballot-box snatching, vote-buying, thuggery, and all forms of electoral violence would be met with the full weight of the law.

“Anyone found culpable will be made to face the full weight of the law,” Ndukwe declared, urging voters to report suspicious persons and activities to the nearest police station.

Even though there are seven political parties slated to be in the ballot for the poll, it is a straight fight between the candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Nestor Ezeme and the flag bearer of the APC, Ikeje Asogwa.

In Rivers State, INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Mr Johnson Sinikiem, assured stakeholders that security agencies had guaranteed comprehensive deployment, both on land and across riverine areas, for the Rivers South-East by-election, which covers 1,629 polling units spread across seven local government areas.

Sinikiem, who spoke during the inspection and distribution of sensitive election materials at the CBN branch in Port Harcourt, said the commission held a joint Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, meeting on Wednesday, at which all security agencies gave firm assurances.

“We do not anticipate any major security challenge, but even if any arises, we are confident that it can be effectively managed,” he said.

The REC dismissed concerns over missing result sheets, saying all materials were intact and would be entered appropriately at polling units and collation centres in line with electoral guidelines. A total of 858,573 registered voters are expected to participate in the Rivers South-East poll. Three supervising RECs from Delta, Adamawa, and Katsina states are also in Rivers to oversee the process.

Four parties in the race to replace Senator Barry Mpigi, who died recently.“According to the final list release by the INEC, the four political parties and candidates are Fabeke Douglas (Action Alliance, AA); Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari (APC); Sam Kinanee Barikpoa (Labour Party, LP); and Olaka Nwogu (PDP).

673,446 voters, 4 parties to participate in Ondo senatorial bye-election

In Ondo, four candidates are set for battle to fill the vacant seat left by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim after his appointment by President Bola Tinubu as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.“Ibrahim was elected in June 2023 on the All Progressives Congress platform before his appointment.“The district covers six local government areas: Okitipupa, Irele, Ese-Odo, Ilaje, Odigbo, and Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.““4 Parties, 673,446 voters participating – INEC“The INEC cleared only four political parties– Prof. Francis Adedayo Faduyile of the APC; Adeolu Akinwumi Harrison of the Allied Peoples’ Movement, APM; Prince Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action Peoples Party, APP; and Nejo Funso Clement of the Boot Party.

INEC said 673,446 registered voters will vote across 1,354 polling units and 66 registration areas.“Faduyile and Akinwumi are both former governorship aspirants. Faduyile contested the governorship in 2020 and 2024, while Akinwumi contested in 2024 on the Peoples Democratic Party platform before switching to APM for this bye-election.“Olaoluwa is also the current Inter-Party Advisory Council Chairman in the state.“Leaders of other parties, including the African Democratic Congress and National Democratic Congress, said they are skipping the bye-election to concentrate on the 2027 general election.

Nasarawa North

For the Nasarawa North Senatorial bye-election, to fill the vacancy created by Senator Godiya Akwashiki’s death, six candidates have been cleared to contest, with the latest additions being the candidates of National Democratic Congress, NDC, Mr. Duba Ishaya Dodo and that of ADC, Alaku Mohammed Steve Ahmed.

The Nasarawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mohammed Abubakar Sadiq, had earlier announced the names of political parties and candidates cleared for the by-election as Halilu Danladi Envulanza of the APC; Labaran Maku of the Labour Party; John Paul Araneshri of the New Nigeria People’s Party, NNPP; and Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the PDP.

APC battles LP in Kebbi bye-election

For the Zuru state constituency bye-election in Kebbi State, it is a straight fight between the APC and LP, which are the only parties in the race.

Three candidates jostle for Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Reps seat

In Kano State, three candidates are in the race to represent Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The election is being conducted to fill the vacancy left by the death of the former lawmaker, Muhammad Hassan.

The candidates cleared by the INEC are Rabi’u Shuaibu of the APC, Lawan Garba Haruna of the APM, and Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad of the Labour Party.”

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