Security agencies have intensified preparations for Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, with the police warning against vote buying, political thuggery and other forms of electoral violence, even as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) commenced distribution of sensitive materials across the state’s 16 local government areas.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Abayomi Shogunle, gave the warning on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during a media briefing organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), saying a comprehensive security architecture had been activated to ensure a peaceful and credible poll.
Shogunle described vote buying as a criminal offence capable of undermining democratic values, cautioning political actors, party agents and voters against any form of electoral malpractice.
According to him, security operatives have been strategically deployed across identified flashpoints in the state, with special attention to high-risk communities.
He disclosed that no fewer than 460 flashpoints had been mapped out and reinforced with personnel as part of an intelligence-driven deployment strategy approved under the Inspector-General of Police’s operational order.
“The operational order is based on a multi-layered security framework,” Shogunle said.
“We have deployed adequate personnel to the 460 identified flashpoints across all 16 local government areas. With the security architecture in place, I am confident the election will be peaceful and violence-free.”
The police commissioner added that intelligence gathering, stakeholder engagement and monitoring systems informed the deployment plan, while additional security measures had been activated in vulnerable communities.
He also revealed that security had been strengthened at entry and exit points into Ekiti State, particularly along border routes with Kogi and Kwara States, to monitor movement into and out of the state during the election period.
“We are monitoring everything coming in and going out of Ekiti State,” he said.
Shogunle further announced restriction of vehicular movement on election day, advising voters to proceed on foot to polling units, while exempting only those on essential duties.
He assured that election materials would be protected throughout the electoral process, from state warehouses to local government areas, registration areas and polling units.
“We have adequate security arrangements for everyone. All 2,445 polling units and collation centres will be adequately protected,” he added.
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He also confirmed that police escorts were already accompanying sensitive materials to local government headquarters ahead of final distribution to polling units.
Meanwhile, INEC has begun the movement of sensitive election materials to the 16 local government areas of the state under tight security.
The distribution exercise commenced at about 1:25 a.m. on Thursday at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch in Ado-Ekiti, with heavy security presence from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Election observers, political party agents, media representatives and INEC officials were present to monitor the sorting and dispatch process, which commenced with councils located farther from the state capital, including Ilejemeje, Ayekire, Ido-Osi, Ijero, Ikole, Ekiti East and Emure.
Security operatives escorted vehicles conveying the materials to ensure their safe delivery.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the process was conducted transparently and in full view of stakeholders.
“As you can see, we have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials for Saturday’s governorship election. The process is being carried out transparently in the presence of security agencies, political parties, observers, media and other stakeholders,” he said.
Omoseyindemi expressed confidence in INEC’s preparedness for the poll and urged residents to participate peacefully, assuring that the commission remained committed to delivering a credible election.
He also commended security agencies for their cooperation, noting that their deployment would ensure safe movement of materials and safeguard the integrity of the electoral process.