. SDP dumps it’s candidate, adopts Oyebanji
. INEC tasks voters on peaceful conduct
Less than 24 hours to the commencement of the Ekiti State governorship election, the race has effectively narrowed to a three-way contest involving the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Dr Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and Dare Bejide of the African Demoratic Congress, ADC.
The candidates have spent weeks traversing communities across the state’s 16 local government areas and 177 wards, canvassing support and presenting competing visions for the future of Ekiti.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says 1,028,929 out of 1,059,360 total registered voters in Ekiti have collected their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) ahead of the state governorship election holding on Saturday.
Mohammed Haruna, INEC National Commissioner and Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, following the conclusion of the PVC collection in the state.
Haruna noted that following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise in the State on Thursday, May 15 and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register, the number of registered voters in the state rose from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
“Similarly, the number of PVCs collected rose from 958,052 in 2023, representing a collection rate of 97.0 per cent, to 1,028,929 in 2026, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters,” he said.
Haruna recalled that the PVC collection exercise, originally scheduled to end on June 11, was extended to June 14, following consultations with stakeholders at a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.
He also said that in line with the provisions of Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act 2026, the commission made available to registered voters replacement PVCs in the event of the loss, damage or defacement of their original PVC.
Haruna stated that under the arrangement, 14,406 applications were received within the stipulated time and all the replacement PVCs were printed most of which have been collected.
“The option of a downloadable copy of the lost, damaged or defaced Voter Cards could not be implemented in this election because the necessary technology infrastructure for this is yet to be completed.
“The option would be available to voters in subsequent elections, especially the Osun Governorship election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election,” he said.
Haruna appreciated the support of stakeholders, including traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and the media, in mobilising citizens to collect their PVCs and prepare for the forthcoming election.
He also said that for the Ekiti governorship election, all PVCs had been printed and made available for all eligible applicants, including those who requested a transfer, or applied for the replacement of lost, damaged or defaced cards.
Haruna said that a detailed breakdown of PVC collection by Local Government Area (LGA) had been uploaded on the Commission’s website and social media platforms.
He urged all registered voters who had collected their PVCs to turn out peacefully and exercise their franchise on election day.
Haruna reassured the people of Ekiti State of INEC commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and inclusive governorship election.
The electoral body had on Thursday deployed sensitive election materials to the 16 local government areas of the state, while the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has deployed 10,000 personnel and the Nigeria Police Force activated a comprehensive election security framework to safeguard the poll.
The materials include ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines and voter registers, among other election components required for the conduct of the poll.
Meanwhile, the Ekiti State Governor, Oyebanji on Wednesday gave account of his stewardship in office in the last three and half years, saying that he had delivered on his campaign promises and given the state good governance.
Oyebanji, who is the All Progressives Congress candidate in the June 20 governorship election, is seeking reelection as governor for another four-year term.
He spoke in a statewide broadcast to the people of Ekiti State.
He said, “As we approach the polls, I want to humbly request that you renew the Shared Prosperity Mandate you gave us four years ago by another four years.
“While we are proud of the landmark achievements we have recorded in the last four years, I am very confident that with another four years of your mandate, we will be able to take the socioeconomic plans of our administration to a greater heights.
“Ekiti kete, there is no doubt that we have remained faithful to our social contract with you as expressed in our 2022 manifesto. We are grateful to you for all the accolades and the rains of commendations we have received for our achievements.”
Oyebanji added, “We are more than encouraged by the overwhelming goodwill and support that we have continued to receive across the state. And we are more committed to serving you even better given another mandate.
“Given the solid foundation of economic prosperity we have laid already, a new mandate will witness a higher velocity of development and fast delivery of service.
“With another four years of Shared Prosperity mandate, we will be able to complete all our ongoing projects, entrench policy initiatives, pursue new vision and open new frontiers of development in accordance with our 30 years Development Plan.”
The governor appealed to stakeholders, members of the political parties, election observers and security agencies “to act professionally and conduct themselves with the highest level of decorum and fairness.
“So far, this current political electioneering has been the most peaceful in the history of our state, and we must do everything to ensure that the election and post-election activities remain peaceful.”
Meanwhile, the Court of Appeal in Abuja has affirmed Governor Oyebanji, as the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election.
The appellate court, in a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, dismissed an appeal filed by an APC member, Mrs Abimbola Olawumi, who challenged the outcome of the party’s primary election.
A three-member panel of the court, led by Justice Adebukola Banjoko, held that the appeal was incompetent.
The Court of Appeal found that Olawumi’s brief of argument was filed in contravention of the court’s rules, having exceeded the number of pages allowed.
The court consequently held that the appeal was unsupported by valid arguments and was therefore incompetent.
The ruling effectively cleared the way for Oyebanji to remain the APC candidate in the governorship poll. The appellate court also allowed the cross-appeal filed by Oyebanji.
It held that the trial court was wrong when it ruled that Olawumi qualified to be classified as an aspirant within the contemplation of the Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2022.
The judgment has put to rest, at the appellate level, the dispute over Oyebanji’s nomination as the APC candidate ahead of the election scheduled for Saturday.
