INEC Assures Ekiti Voters of Credible Poll, Flags Fake News as Major Election Threat

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its readiness for the forthcoming Ekiti State governorship election, assuring residents that all arrangements have been concluded for a smooth, peaceful and credible exercise.

Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Friday, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the commission had completed the deployment of election materials and personnel in preparation for the poll.

Omoseyindemi noted that election preparation is a continuous process and not an event that begins only a few weeks before voting.

“Election is a cycle. We have been preparing since the conclusion of the last election, and what we are witnessing now is simply the final stage of a process that has been ongoing for years,” he said.

The REC disclosed that non-sensitive materials had already been distributed across the state, while sensitive materials were received from the Central Bank of Nigeria and delivered to the appropriate locations ahead of election day.

He explained that Registration Area Centres (RACs) would be activated before the commencement of voting, with electoral officials expected to report early for deployment to polling units.

According to him, INEC aims to ensure that all polling units are operational by 8 a.m., while accreditation and voting are expected to commence by 8:30 a.m.

Omoseyindemi said the commission would deploy thousands of ad hoc personnel to man the state’s 2,445 polling units, alongside permanent staff stationed at local government and state offices.

On security arrangements, he said INEC had intensified collaboration with relevant agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) to guarantee a peaceful electoral process.

“We have been meeting regularly with security agencies and putting in place measures to ensure that voters, election officials and materials are protected throughout the exercise,” he said.

The REC also raised concerns over the growing menace of vote-buying, urging citizens to reject inducements and focus on electing leaders based on competence and credibility.

He stressed that tackling electoral corruption requires sustained voter education and a change in public attitude towards elections.

Omoseyindemi further identified misinformation and fake news as the biggest challenge facing the commission ahead of the poll, warning that false reports often create panic and discourage voter participation.

“Fake news remains one of our greatest concerns. Unverified reports can create unnecessary fear and give the impression that the security situation is worse than it actually is,” he said.

He urged media organisations and social media users to verify information before publication in order to protect the integrity of the electoral process.

The REC, however, commended political parties participating in the election for maintaining a largely peaceful campaign atmosphere, noting that no significant incidents of violence or political thuggery had been recorded.

On logistics, Omoseyindemi revealed that INEC had conducted extensive planning to ensure the timely movement of personnel and materials, including identifying areas where motorcycles, tricycles and other special transport arrangements would be required.

He added that all vehicles and drivers engaged for the election were screened in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to him, measures have also been put in place to ensure prompt payment of transport operators to avoid operational disruptions.

Reaffirming the commission’s preparedness, Omoseyindemi expressed confidence that the election would meet the expectations of voters and stakeholders.

“We are ready. Our personnel, materials, logistics and security arrangements are in place. We look forward to conducting a credible election that reflects the will of the people of Ekiti State,” he said.