As E Dey Happen, APC candidate for Ekiti govnorship election win polling unit

Live Coverage

Tunde Ososanya and Adebola Ajayi

1. 18 minutes wey don passBreaking, Ekiti APC guber candidate Oyebanji win polling unit

   

   Wia dis foto come from, Biodun Oyebanji/X

   Di govnorship candidate of di All Progressives Congress (APC) wey also be di incumbent govnor of di state Biodun Oyebanji don win for im for polling unit for di Ekiti state govnorship election.

   Di results wey dem announce for Polling Unit 003, Ward 06, Okelele, Ikogosi Ekiti, show say di APC secure 326 votes.

   Di African Democratic Congress get two votes, di Action Democratic Party and African Action Congress record one vote each.

   Electoral officers declare three votes void.

   Earlier, Oyebanji wey dey seek for second term on di platform of di APC bin cast im vote alongside im wife, Olayemi for dia polling unit.

2. 26 minutes wey don passVoting don officially close for Ekiti election - Inec

   

   Di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) say voting don officially end for most polling units across Ekiti State.

   Di polls close at 2:30 p.m.

   Di electoral body say all di 2,445 Polling Units for di state open for di govnorship bifor 8:30am.

   188 poling units experience small delay but dem start voting bifor 10:30am.

   Dem no give reason for di delay but reports say small challenges bin dey wit di Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

   According to Inec, di electoral process dey peaceful.

   "Voting don officially end for most Polling Units for Ekiti State as dem close polls for 2:30 p.m. Early in di day, all 2,445 Polling Units don successfully open for di Governorship Election: ✓ 2,257 PUs (92.31%) open as e suppose bifor 8:30 a.m. ✓ 188 PUs (7.69%) get small delays but voting start bifor 10:30 a.m. Di whole process remain peaceful and orderly," Inec tok.

3. 43 minutes wey don passFormer Ekiti govnor Kayode Fayemi cast im vote, say disturbance for Isan-Ekiti no be political

   

   Wia dis foto come from, Kayode Fayemi/X

   Former Ekiti state govnor Kayode Fayemi don cast im vote for Ward 11, Isan-Ekiti for di state govnorship election.

   Fayemi say im dey impressed wit di turnout and di orderly manner wey voters take come out to perform dia civic duty and exercise dia democratic right.

   E comment on di kasala wey burst for di Isan community for Friday night and say e no get anytin to do wit politics or di election.

   Fayemi wey serve as govnor of Ekiti state from 2018 – 2022 say police don assure am say investigation dey go on and anybody wey dem discover say get hand for di disturbance go face justice.

4. one hour wey don passSenate leader Bamidele vote for Ekiti election, say voter turnout sweet am

   

   Wia dis foto come from, Opeyemi Bamidele/X

   Nigeria Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele say im dey impressed wit di turn out of voters for di ongoing Ekiti govnorship election.

   Bamidele wey vote wit im wife for dia compound for unit 003, Ward 2, Iyin Ekiti, say di pipo dey obey di new electoral law.

   E tell tori pipo afta e cast im vote say e don get report bifor e comot house say tins dey go well and Inec officials tanda for dia polling stations for di election.

   "Bifor I comot my house I make call to find out how tins dey go for different local govments, and I dey impressed wit di report wey I get and how tins dey go about voters turn out."

   "On di part of Inec, I dey impressed wit di report I get, as dem reach di polling units fast, na improvement for our electoral system."

   Di senate leader say im like as voters and party pipo dey obey di new electoral act for dis election.

   "Dis na di first major election under di new electoral law, I see compliance from parties, and voters and pipo dey aware of di electoral offences wey dey."

   Howeva, counting don begin for some polling units for Ekiti as di election dey ready to close.

   

   Wia dis foto come from, Bamidele Opeyemi/X

5. one hour wey don passYiaga Africa observe inconsistency for di ballot papers and result sheets for Ekiti govnorship election

   

   Election observation group, Yiaga Africa tok say dem don identify inconsistencies between ballot papers, result sheets, and di list of candidates wey di Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) publish for di Ekiti govnorship election.

   For one statement wey Aisha Abdullahi, di chair of Yiaga Africa 2026 Ekiti Election Observation Mission, and Samson Itodo, di organisation Executive Director issue on Saturday, di election observation group tok say preliminary findings show say differences dey for di number of political parties wey dey key election materials wey Inec use.

   According to di organisation, Form EC8A polling unit result sheets contain spaces for 15 political parties, while di ballot papers wey dey in circulation carry di names of 19 parties.

   However, Inec final list of candidates wey dem update on 18 June and publish on dia website, show say na only 14 political parties get candidates for di election.

   Yiaga Africa warn say di inconsistencies fit cause confusion during voting and result collation.

6. 2 hours wey don passSorting and counting don start as voting end!

   Article Information

   • • 
     • Author, Tunde Ososanya
     • Role, Senior Journalist, BBC News Pidgin

   

   Sorting and counting don begin for di Ekiti State govnorship election as voting don end.

   In case una just dey join us, na 14 political parties dey participate for today election for Ekiti State.

   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.

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

   Polling units bin open by 8:30 am.

7. 2 hours wey don pass'Keep our state peaceful' - APC govnorship candidate Oyebanji tell voters

   

   Wia dis foto come from, Biodun Oyebanji/X

   Govnor Biodun Oyebanji wey be di candidate of di All Progressives Congress for di Ekiti State govnorship election don tell voters say make dem no cause any kasala for di ongoing poll.

   Di govnor cast im vote for im polling unit wia e say di election still dey go on smoothly for now.

   Oyebanji say make evri single voter dey peaceful and make dem exercise dia voting right witout wahala.

   E dey compete wit 13 oda govnorship candidates for di election.

8. 3 hours wey don passEkiti State govnorship election in fotos

   Article Information

   • • 
     • Author, Tunde Ososanya
     • Role, Senior Journalist, BBC News Pidgin

   

   

   

   

9. 3 hours wey don passNigerian police warn against vote-buying and oda electoral offences

   Di Nigeria Police Force don warn against vote-buying, vote selling, ballot box snatching, violence, intimidation and anytin wey fit scata di govnorship election wey dey go on for Ekiti state, southwest Nigeria.

   Di police for statement say dem no tolerate any electoral offence wey go challenge democracy for di state.

   Dem say dem go arrest and prosecute any offender wey dem catch in accordance wit di law.

   Hours into di Ekiti govnorship election, police say di electoral process dey go on peacefully across di state.

   For statement wey di Force release to give update on di election, dem say dia officers dey across all di polling units and critical locations to ensure public safety, maintain law and order, and support electoral process.

10. 4 hours wey don passADC candidate Oluwadare Bejide driver chop beating for polling station

    Article Information

    • • 
      • Author, Tunde Ososanya
      • Role, Senior Journalist, BBC News Pidgin

    

    Kasala burst for one polling unit and di driver of di African Democratic Congress (ADC) govnorship candidate for di Ekiti State poll, Oluwadare Bejide, chop beating.

    Video wey dey circulate online show as dem wrap bandage for im head wey dey bleed.

    Inside di video, di driver say dem knack am back of gun for head.

    Bejide say na vote-buying cause di kasala wey involve party officials, security operatives and im driver wey chop beating.

    Bejide bin cast im vote for Ward 2, Unit 4, Ilawe Ekiti, Ekiti West Local Govment Area.

    

    Wia dis foto come from, Peter Dada

11. 5 hours wey don passGovnor of Ekiti State Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji cast im vote

    

    Ekiti State Govnor Biodun Oyebanji don cast im vote for PU 003, RA 06 Ekiti West.

    Di govnor wey dey contest under di platform of di All Progressives Congress (APC) tell residents say make dem dey patient as Inec dey do evritin to make sure say di electoral process dey peaceful and smooth.

    "Evritin dey positive, and di election dey go on smoothly. Di pipo dey happy, and voter turnout dey impressive," di govnor tok.

    "We dey satisfied. However, I need to appeal to our pipo make dem remain patient wit Inec. "All of dis technical glitches, Inec don personally assure me say dem go handle am."

    

    

12. 5 hours wey don passFormer govnor of Ekiti Ayodele Fayose caste im vote

    Former Ekiti State govnor Ayodele Fayose don cast im vote for im Polling Unit 1, St. David Primary School, Afao-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Govment Area of Ekiti State.

    

    

13. 6 hours wey don passHow security officials tanda for Ekiti govnorship election?

    Heavy security tanda for Ekiti State for di ongoing govnorship election.

    BBC observe say heavy security presence dey for road, streets and polling units across di state on Saturday.

    Security officers carry weapons as dem dey at alert to counter any gbege wey fit happun for di election.

    Di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also dey on ground to combat vote-buying.

    

    

    

    Wia dis foto come from, Nigeria office force/X

    

    

14. 6 hours wey don passIsan-Ekiti incident no dey related to election violence - Police CP Shogunle

    

    Wia dis foto come from, Abayomi Shogunle/X

    Di Ekiti Police Command on Saturday say di reports on di gbege wey happun for Isan-Ekiti no dey connected to di ongoing govnorship election as di mata happun from one community football match on Friday.

    On Saturday morning, many residents bin dey fear as report spread say two police officers die for di attack as youths begin fight on Friday night to protest against vote-buying ahead of di Saturday poll.

    Abayomi Shogunle, di commissioner of police for di 2026 Ekiti State govnorship election on Saturday ontop X, say di incident wey happun on Friday night for Isan-Ekiti community, Oye Local Govment Area of Ekiti State na becos of football match.

    Shogunle tok say police officers don contain and de-escalate di tension, as voting continue for di state on early mor-mor on Saturday.

    "Di gbege wey happun for Isan-Ekiti last night no be election/political related. Na becos of di football match for di community," Shogunle tok.

    "Necessary containment and de-escalation measures don dey in place, dem don restore calmness. Voting go still hold dis morning for di town as scheduled," e add

    Shogunle no tok about if two police officers die or not.

15. 7 hours wey don passPDP candidate cast vote, protest against alleged voters harassment

    

    Wia dis foto come from, Olabode Olalekan

    Wole Oluyede, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) govnorship candidate for di ongoing Ekiti Election, don cast im vote for ward 2, unit 3, Osagburu Hall, Ikere Local Govment Area.

    Oluyede allege say police officers dey harass members of im political party, block voters from accessing dia polling units for di community

    E also allege say di “heavy deployment” of police officers for im community too much.

    Oluyede say dis afta im cast im vote for polling unit 06 for Osagburu/Hall Oke Oloti, Ward 03 Ugele Arokun for Ikere Ekiti.

    "Di process dey useless. Pipo don dey here for about one and half hours, and na only five pipo don vote for my polling unit. Dis na wetin dem dey do all di time. I dey suspect say somtin dey wrong wit di Inec process," Oluyede tok.

    "I go stay around. If dem dey vote five per hour, e dey sad. You no fit disenfranchise dis pipo. Dem deserve democracy. I dey confident say pipo go tanda for here to see di process. You fit go down dia make you see di army or police officers wey dey harass pipo. I get evidence to show."

16. 8 hours wey don passPolice deploy officers, release hotline for Ekiti govnorship election

    

    Wia dis foto come from, Nigeria Police Force/X

    Di Nigeria Police Force don intensify dia security presence and release emergency contact lines for di 2026 Ekiti govnorship elections.

    Inside one memo wey dem release on Saturday, di police say dem don deploy adequate officers, resources across di state to ensure peaceful, secure, and credible election.

    Di secuirity agency tell citizens say make dem follow election rules and report any emergencies.

    "Make citizens conduct demsefs peacefully, obey electoral guidelines, and report any suspicious activities to security agencies," di police tok.

    Election emergency line: 080062335577

17. 8 hours wey don passCandidates wey dey contest for di Ekiti State govnorship election

    

    Wia dis foto come from, Biodun Oyebanji, Wole Oluyede and Oluwadare Bejide/ Facebook

    Na 14 candidates dey for dis election, including di incumbent Govnor Biodun Oyebanji.

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

    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

18. 8 hours wey don passVoting don start!

    Article Information

    • • 
      • Author, Tunde Ososanya
      • Role, Senior Journalist, BBC News Pidgin

    Voting don start for di Ekiti State govnorship election as electoral officers keep to time wey di poll suppose start wey be 8:30am.

    Pipo comply to di ‘no movement order’ as di roads dey empty.

    

    

19. 9 hours wey don passUna good morning

    Dis na our live coverage of Ekiti govnorship election wia 14 candidates dey contest for di poll.

    Our tori pipo dey for Ekiti State to bring una all di informate as e dey happun for di election.

    Dis live page go dey open until election finish.

    In case you miss am, see five tins you need to know about Ekiti State govnorship election.