With just few hours to the Ekiti State gubernatorial poll, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, says all necessary arrangements for a successful election have been put in place.

Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Haliru Pai, gave the assurance in an interview with journalists on Friday.
He said all sensitive and non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the 16 local government areas for the smooth conduct of the election.

Pai urged the electorate to come out and exercise their franchise as adequate security have been provided.
According to him, the electoral body will remain impartial and provide a level playing ground for the 18 candidates participating in the Saturday’s poll.

“The election is taking place in Ekiti State, all processes must be completed in the state, the rumour that election result would be announced in Abuja is not true,” Pai stressed.

He said of the 732,165 voters that registered to vote, 476,870 had collected their permanent voters’ card, representing 65 per cent.

The electoral commissioner reiterated that no voter would be accredited to vote without The permanent voter’s card.

About 1, 900 local and foreign observers and journalists have been accredited to observe and cover the election.
Security has been beefed up within and around the INEC secretariat, as election monitoring materials were being distributed to local observers.

Eighteen candidates from the various political parties are contesting in the poll, the major contenders being the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Ayo Fayose of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Opeyemi Bamidele of the Labour Party, LP.