Five tins you need to know about Ekiti State govnorship election

Ekiti State pipo go cast dia votes on Saturday, 20 June for one of Nigeria most closely watched off-cycle govnorship elections.

Di election go determine who go lead di state for di next four years and shape conversations around governance, development and political direction for one of Nigeria politically engaged states.

Govnorship elections for Nigeria dey often attract national attention, but Ekiti don build reputation ova di years as state wia elections na fierce contest and observers dey closely monitor and analyse voters decisions.

From changes in political leadership to debates around continuity and performance, di election dey expected to draw interest from voters, political observers and stakeholders across di kontri.

Na 14 govnorship candidates dey contest for di Ekiti State govnorship election including di current Govnor Biodun Oyebanji.

Ekiti get 1,059,360 registered voters. Dis number increase by 66,000 compared to di number of registered voters for di last election for 2022.

Voting go take place across all di 16 local govment areas, 177 wards and 2,445 polling units.

Polling units go open by 8:30 am on election day.

Wetin dey at stake?

Di next administration go inherit responsibilities wey include to improve infrastructure, expand access to quality healthcare and education, attract investment, strengthen agriculture and create opportunities for young pipo.

One of di biggest questions bifor voters na weda to maintain di current governing approach or hand power to alternative political platform wit different priorities.

Supporters of continuity fit point to ongoing projects and argue say anoda term fit allow govment programmes to mature and deliver long-term results. Pipo wey dey seek change fit argue say new administration fit introduce fresh ideas, different leadership styles and renewed momentum for areas wey dem believe go need improvement.

Ekiti govnorship elections don historically produce outcomes wey generate national conversation. Political analysts dey often study voters behaviours for di state becos of di active electorate and competitive political environment.

Turnout go be one of di key factors to watch. Political parties no go only focus on persuading voters but dem go also ensure say supporters come out to vote.

Why election date for Ekiti State dey different

For 2009, Appeal Court cancel election of Govnor Segun Oni afta im don rule for ova 41 months.

Di court say na Dr. Kayode Fayemi bi di winner of di election and direct make dem hand ova power to am immediately.

But INEC organise a partial re-run of di election wey see Fayemi become govnor for di state for 2010.

Dat one na how di election time table take change for Ekiti state.

Who be di candidates?

1. A

Govnorship: Falegan Opeyemi David

Deputy-Govnorship: Omoyeni Bayode

2. AA

Govnorship: Omotosho Matthew Olu

Deputy Govnorship: Ayodeji Olumide George

3. AAC

Govnorship: Akande Oluwasegun Samuel

Deputy Govnorship: Fajuyigbe Oluwasanmi John

4. ADC

Govnorship: Belloje Oluyindare Patrick

Deputy Govnorship: Babatola Ayodeji

5. ADP

Govnorship: Ojo Ayodele

Deputy Govnorship: Isitoye Itunu

6. APC

Govnorship: Oyebanji Abiodun Abayomi

Deputy Govnorship: Afuye Monisade

7. APM

Govnorship: Anifowose Joseph Olanrewaju

Deputy Govnorship: Ilesanmi Margaret Adenike

8. APP

Govnorship: Awogbemi Bidemi Olaiya

Deputy Govnorship: Adewumi Akinyemi

9. LP

Govnorship: Olajuyin Ikuasayedegbe Oyehanji

Deputy Govnorship: Okumade Ayokunle Odumayo

10. NNPP

Govnorship: Abegunde Ayodami Blessing

Deputy Govnorship: Ajayi Francis Ade

11. PDP

Govnorship: Oluyede Olumayokun Oluwole

Deputy Govnorship: Ogunsakin Kazeem Ayodeji

12. PRP

Govnorship: Ayodele Olaniyi Olanrewaju Praise

Deputy Govnorship: Adebiyi Modupe Dorcas

13. YPP

Govnorship: Osinkolu Olusegun Ayodele

Deputy Govnorship: Arowolo David Olusesan

14. ZLP

Govnorship: Adetunji Victor Damilola

Deputy Govnorship: Oyeniyi Adesina Charles

Inec declare readiness for Ekiti govnorship election

Di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) say dem don complete operational, technological and logistical preparations for di Ekiti State govnorship election.

Inec chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan bin give di assurance during final stakeholders engagement for Ado-Ekiti, wia e bin present wetin di Commission describe as full readiness profile ahead of di election.

According to the Commission, total of 1,059,360 registered voters don dey cleared to participate for di election afta di conclusion of voter registration and verification processes.

Inec say Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) go dey deployed for all polling units on election day as di only approved method for voter accreditation and authentication.

Di Commission also say results from polling units go dey uploaded directly to di Inec Result Viewing Portal (IReV) to enable public access and real-time monitoring of results as collation dey go on.

Security tanda ahead of election

Inec say dem develop election security plans in collaboration wit di Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) afta risk assessments across di state.

According to di Commission, certain local govment areas don dey identified for enhanced monitoring sake of concerns around political thuggery, cult activities, ballot disruption and oda security risks.

Inec add say anti-corruption agencies, including di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), di Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) go work alongside election authorities to curb vote-buying and financial inducement.