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Ekiti Poll: Sorting, counting of votes commences across polling units

Mustapha USMAN
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Ekiti Poll: Sorting, counting of votes commences across polling units

AD-HOC staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have commenced sorting and counting of votes in several polling units across Ekiti State following the conclusion of voting in Saturday’s governorship election.

Reports from polling units monitored by The ICIR and CJID showed election officials sorting ballots in the presence of voters, party agents and election observers.

At Polling Unit 008, Ward 07, Mary Mount Primary School, Olora-Elemukansi, in Ado Local Government Area, counting commenced shortly before 3 p.m. and was ongoing as of the time of reporting.

Similarly, at Polling Unit 006, Ward 11, St. Pius Catholic School in Ikere-Ekiti Local Government Area, election officials began counting votes after polls closed. 

At Polling Unit 05, Ward 1, in Moba Local Government Area, the Presiding Officer was seen counting votes in full view of voters and party agents who gathered around the polling unit to monitor the process.

At Polling Unit 004, Ward 07, Apadaba area of Ilawe Local Government Area, sorting of ballots was ongoing while party agents prepared to observe the counting process.

Election results have also been announced in Polling Unit 010, Ward 008, located in front of Obadofin House in Ikole Local Government Area.

According to the result announced at the polling unit, a total of 132 votes were cast, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) securing 130 votes. The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) received one vote, while one ballot was declared void.

The Ekiti governorship election is being contested by 12 political parties across 2,445 polling units in 177 wards, with over one million registered voters eligible to participate.

As of the time of filing this report, vote sorting and counting were ongoing in many polling units across the state, with collation expected to commence thereafter.

Meanwhile, voting is still ongoing in several other polling units observed by the CJID and The ICIR.

Ekiti Poll: Yiaga Africa raises concerns over discrepancies in ballot papers, result sheets

Mustapha USMAN
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Ekiti Poll: Yiaga Africa raises concerns over discrepancies in ballot papers, result sheets

ELECTION observer group Yiaga Africa has raised concerns over inconsistencies in election materials deployed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the ongoing Ekiti State governorship election.

In a preliminary statement during the election on Saturday, June 20, the group said it identified discrepancies on ballot papers, polling-unit result sheets and the final list of candidates published by INEC.

Yiaga Africa said its observers, deployed to 250 randomly sampled polling units across the state, reported the inconsistencies during the early stages of voting.

According to the group, the Form EC8A polling-unit result sheets contain space for 15 political parties, while the ballot papers used for the election contain space for 19 parties. 

However, INEC’s final list of candidates, as updated on its website on June 18, reflects only 14 political parties participating in the election.

The organisation warned that the discrepancies could create confusion during voting, vote counting and collation.

“These inconsistencies might create confusion during voting and collation. Where result sheets include parties that are not on the ballot, presiding officers may record zero votes for parties that voters did not see. Conversely, where voters cast ballots for parties not reflected on the result sheet, such actions could create uncertainty in recording, reconciliation, and collation,” the group said.

Yiaga Africa attributed the inconsistencies to developments that followed the publication of INEC’s initial list of candidates in January 2026, including court rulings and administrative changes affecting parties’ participation in the election.

The group noted that some of the changes did not appear to have been fully reflected across all election materials and may not have been adequately communicated to the public.

The organisation called on INEC to immediately clarify the final list of participating parties and candidates and explain the differences between the ballot papers, result sheets and previous announcements.

It also urged the commission to issue clear written guidelines to presiding officers and collation officials on how to complete result sheets in line with the law and relevant court judgments.

The Ekiti governorship election is being contested by 12 political parties across 2,445 polling units in 177 wards, with over one million registered voters expected to participate in the exercise.

Accord candidate alleges ₦20,000 vote buying as police warn against electoral offences

Mustapha USMAN
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Accord candidate alleges ₦20,000 vote buying as police warn against electoral offences

THE governorship candidate of the Accord Party in the Ekiti State election, Opeyemi Falegan, has alleged widespread vote buying, saying voters were paid as much as ₦20,000 in some polling units.

Falegan, who voted in the Idofin area of Ado-Ekiti, also accused security agents of failing to stop the alleged inducement, saying some officers appeared to “synergise” with those involved.

“It was really sad to see vote buying everywhere at 20k per vote and security agents synergising with those acts,” he said in a post shared on Facebook after voting.

His allegation comes amid an earlier report by The ICIR, which quoted observers describing cases of voter inducement in parts of the state. Observers also noted instances where party agents recorded voters’ names, issued numbered slips after voting, and distributed items such as biscuits and drinks around polling units.

In some locations, voters were reportedly asked to write down their names soon after casting their ballots, with claims linking the process to incentives.

Speaking further, the Accord candidate alleged irregularities in the voting process, claiming the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was malfunctioning in some areas, forcing a resort to manual accreditation.

“I hereby condemn this process and conclude no election in Ekiti State,” he said.

“BVAS is not working, INEC, shame on you. Now they wanna do manual voting. This is fraud, and APC is writing numbers. There is no election in Ekiti state,” the Accord Party candidate said in another post. 

The ICIR reports that his claims on BVAS malfunction align with field observations from several polling units, where voters reported difficulties with accreditation due to delays and failures in facial capture by the system. 

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has warned against electoral offences, including vote buying, vote selling, ballot box snatching, violence, intimidation and other acts capable of disrupting the election.

The police, in a statement after the commencement of the poll, said such offences undermine democracy and would not be tolerated, adding that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted in line with the law.

“Electoral offences undermine democracy and will not be tolerated,” the Force warned.

The ICIR reports that the election is being contested by 12 political parties across 2,445 polling units in 177 wards, with about 1.02 million registered voters expected to decide whether Governor Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secures a second term or a new governor emerges.

Oyebanji, who won the 2022 governorship election with 187,057 votes, is facing challengers from eleven other political parties in a race being closely monitored by election observers.

Ekiti decides: BVAS glitches and other hiccups amid peaceful process

Nanji Nandang VENLEY
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Ekiti decides: BVAS glitches and other hiccups amid peaceful process

THE Ekiti State governorship election, Saturday, remained largely peaceful across most polling units across the state. However, there were reports of malfunctioning Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, attempts by party agents to influence voters and other hiccups. 

Observers deployed across local government areas reported that in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, accreditation was delayed at Polling Unit 001 after the BVAS malfunctioned, leaving voters, including elderly and priority voters, stranded for hours.

At another polling unit in the same LGA, electoral officials struggled with poor network connectivity, forcing them to rely on a power bank while voters waited for accreditation to commence.

Similarly, in Ado Local Government Area, voting was halted at a polling unit in Irona Ward after the BVAS reportedly stopped working, leaving accreditation stuck at 12 voters despite a queue of waiting electorates.

In Ido/Osi Local Government Area, several voters complained that although they possessed valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs), their names could not be found on the BVAS register, preventing them from being accredited and voting.

A similar accreditation challenge was reported at a polling unit in Ward 7, where a woman repeatedly failed accreditation despite several attempts by election officials. Witnesses said someone at the polling unit suggested she be given N5,000 as compensation for being unable to vote, a proposal she rejected while expressing frustration over her inability to exercise her franchise.

At Ejigbo Farm 2 Polling Unit in Oye Local Government Area, polling officials reportedly complained that the indelible ink marker being used could easily be wiped off. Observers reported that a man who had already voted allegedly returned and attempted to vote a second time, triggering complaints from officials and voters at the polling unit.

Across several polling units, observers also reported party agents attempting to accompany voters into ballot booths or remaining within restricted areas despite electoral guidelines.

In Ise/Orun, party agents were seen lingering around ballot booths and following elderly voters into the voting area, resulting in a disagreement with security personnel. At another polling unit in the same LGA, a party agent was reportedly found inside the voting cubicle with a voter.

Meanwhile, election officials in Ijero, Ilejemeje, Ekiti West and parts of Ado reported low voter turnout, with many polling units recording only a handful of voters by late morning despite the peaceful atmosphere.

 

EkitiDecides: Oyebanji votes, expresses satisfaction with poll

Marcus FATUNMOLE
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EkitiDecides: Oyebanji votes, expresses satisfaction with poll

GOVERNOR Biodun Oyebanji, on Saturday, cast his ballot at his Okelele, Polling Unit 003, in Ikogosi, Ekiti State, describing the exercise as positive.

Oyebanji, who is seeking re-election, was accompanied by his wife, Olayemi. The wife cast her ballot at 11:32 am, followed by the governor, who exercised his franchise at 11:33 am.

Addressing journalists afterwards, Oyebanji said, “The report across the state has been positive. The election is going on smoothly. People are exercising their franchise. We are happy voter turnout is impressive…There is a linkage between what is happening today and their future. We are happy everything is going well.”

He urged voters to be patient with INEC, adding that with some patience, every eligible voter would vote.

“They (INEC) have told me that nobody will be disenfranchised.”

The governor said his administration would continue with his 30-year plan for the state if re-elected.

The ICIR observed hundreds of voters at the governor’s polling unit, while other polling stations in the town experienced lower turnout.

Security officers, including those from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and State Security Service, besieged the governor’s polling booth hours before his arrival. The ICIR reporter could not find a similar number of security officers in other units he visited in the state.

There are also a large number of election observers and officers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) at the governor’s town.

The ICIR reports that over one million voters (1,059,360) who collected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are expected to participate in the poll, taking place across the 16 LGAs in the state today.

Oyebanji is contesting against 11 other contenders for the most exalted political seat in the state.

The ICIR reported the Situation Room saying the Ekiti governorship poll would be a litmus test for INEC’s readiness to conduct free, credible and fair elections in 2027.

 

#Ekiti Decides2026: 6 ways to fact-check election rumours spread on WhatsApp

Editorial
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#Ekiti Decides2026: 6 ways to fact-check election rumours spread on WhatsApp

By Nigeria Fact-checkers Coalition

Residents of Ekiti State are at the polls today, June 20, to elect a new governor. And as with every Nigerian election, WhatsApp will be full of claims about the candidates, the process, and the result.

Here is how to check the claims, photos, voice notes, and videos that will likely circulate on WhatsApp during and after voting.

  1. Look out for the ‘Forwarded’ tag

Most false claims on WhatsApp circulate as forwarded messages. You will see a small arrow icon and the word “Forwarded” above such messages. This does not automatically mean the content is false, since real news is forwarded too, but it is a sign to be cautious, since you cannot tell who wrote it or where it originated.

  1. Check the official sources

If a message claims that a candidate has withdrawn from the race, that a polling unit has been relocated, or that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has made an announcement, check INEC’s official website and verified social media handles, as well as the pages of the political parties and the named candidates. INEC regularly publishes updates on its activities, and a genuine development of that scale would appear there, not only in a forwarded WhatsApp message.

  1. Search for the claim online

Copy the key details in the message, such as names, locations, or figures, and search them on Google. If something newsworthy actually happened in Ado Ekiti, Ikere, or any other local government area in the state, credible Nigerian newsrooms would likely have reported it. If nothing comes up except the same message being shared on other platforms, treat the claim with suspicion.

  1. Verify photos and videos

Photos and videos of violence, ballot snatching, or vote buying resurface during every election cycle, often recycled from previous elections or from entirely different states and countries. Use Google Reverse Image Search to check where a photo first appeared online. For videos, tools like InVID can help confirm whether footage is old or has been used elsewhere before.

  1. Be wary of messages designed to provoke fear or anger

Messages that push you to act immediately, such as warning you to avoid a polling unit or to spread a claim before it is “taken down,” are often designed to spread quickly rather than to inform. Genuine updates from election authorities and credible media houses are usually calm and specific, with clear sources, not urgent and alarming.

  1. Reach out to fact-checking organisations

If you come across a message you are unsure about, send it to a fact-checking organisation such as The Continental, FactCheckHub, Africa Check, Alkalnci or DUBAWA before sharing it further. These organisations take public submissions and have previously verified claims during Nigerian elections. Once a fact check is published, share it back into the group where you first saw the false claim, so others who saw it also see the correction.

By Blessing Amala Muonwe, Fact-checker

Editor: Bamas Victoria & Simbiat Bakare

Two police officers injured as assailants set Ekiti police station ablaze

Esther Tomo
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Two police officers injured as assailants set Ekiti police station ablaze

TWO Police officers sustained injuries after armed attackers set ablaze parts of a police station in Isan, Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State, on Friday evening.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the incident, which happened a few hours before Saturday’s governorship election in the state, created panic before security operatives moved in to contain the situation.

In a post on X, the Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, said the incident was not linked to the governorship election or political activities, adding that “the disturbance stemmed from a disagreement connected to a football match in the community.”

CP Shogunle added that security operatives had put containment and de-escalation measures in place, restoring calm in the area, and confirmed that voting would proceed as scheduled in Isan-Ekiti.

Earlier, PREMIUM TIMES had quoted an undisclosed police source saying gunmen launched a coordinated assault on the station, leaving two officers wounded, one of whom is said to be in a coma.

The officer also stated that several vehicles were damaged during the attack, including a commercial bus reportedly rented by police personnel travelling from Abuja. He explained that operatives of the Police Mobile Force were already heading towards Isan from Oye when they received information about the incident and quickly responded.

Their intervention reportedly forced the attackers to retreat before they could establish control of the town.

The latest incident adds to a troubling pattern of violent assaults on police formations in Ekiti State. In 2016, gunmen stormed the Ido-Ekiti police division, killing an inspector, injuring several officers, and carting away firearms from the armoury. During the #EndSARS protests in 2020, police facilities across the state also came under attack, with stations in areas such as Ikere-Ekiti vandalised and set ablaze.

EFCC converges on Oyebanji’s polling unit as vote-buying allegations spread elsewhere

Mustapha USMAN
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EFCC converges on Oyebanji’s polling unit as vote-buying allegations spread elsewhere

OPERATIVES of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) maintained a heavy presence at Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s polling unit in Ikogosi on Saturday, even as allegations of voter inducement surfaced across several other polling units in Ekiti State during the governorship election.

The election is being contested by 12 political parties across 2,445 polling units in 177 wards, with about 1.02 million registered voters expected to decide whether Governor Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secures a second term or a new governor emerges.

Oyebanji, who won the 2022 governorship election with 187,057 votes, is facing challengers from eleven other political parties in a race being closely monitored by election observers.

The ICIR observer reports that EFCC operatives, security personnel and other election officials maintained a visible presence at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi, where Oyebanji voted. 

However, the anti-graft agency’s presence was minimal in many other polling units monitored across the state, even though incidents suggestive of voter inducement have been reported.

At Polling Unit 09 in Ilepe, Ilejemeje Local Government Area, an APC agent was observed meeting voters shortly after they cast their ballots and handing them numbered slips of paper after brief conversations, according to updates from the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

In Ido/Osi Local Government Area, observers reported seeing party agents distributing biscuits and drinks to voters around polling Unit 004, Methodist Pilot Nursery and Primary School, Ifaki II Ward. 

Two women were also observed recording the names of some voters, while individuals whose names had been documented were directed to remain at a designated location. Party agents were further seen issuing numbers to voters, although the purpose could not be immediately established.

A similar situation was reported at Polling Unit 001, St. Andrew’s Primary School, Odo Emure I Ward, Emure Local Government Area, where some voters were called aside after voting and asked to write down their names.

Groups of about 10 voters were also seen gathered in a corner after providing their details. Some voters confirmed to the CJID observer that the processes were linked to incentives. 

In the same development at Polling Unit 002, Ward 02, Ise/Orun Local Government Area, some voters were seen writing their names as money was allegedly shared with amounts reportedly ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦12,000.

The incidents came despite repeated warnings by the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies against vote-buying and other electoral offences.

Voting was ongoing in the affected polling units as of the time of filing this report, while election authorities had yet to comment on the incidents.

LIVE-CHECK: Ekiti 2026 governorship election

Editorial
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LIVE-CHECK: Ekiti 2026 governorship election

By Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition.

The Ekiti State 2026 Governorship Election kicked off Saturday morning as voters cast their ballots to elect the next governor for the Southwestern Nigerian state.

Our team of journalists, researchers, fact-checkers, social media monitors, editors, and OSINT experts are on the ground at the Nigerian Fact-checkers’ Coalition’s (NFC) Election Situation Rooms to debunk election-related misinformation and disinformation content targeted at causing voter apathy, inciting violence or influencing the outcome of the gubernatorial poll.

Do you have an election-related claim you want us to fact-check?

Share with the NFC via WhatsApp here.

 

This page is constantly being updated with verified checks.

 

CLAIM 1

An X user shared a video claiming unrest in Isan-Ekiti after a man was shot dead ahead of the election.

FINDINGS:

Abayomi Shogunle, Ekiti State Commissioner of Police, confirmed there was unrest on the eve of the election. He claimed it was the result of a football match in the community, not election-related. Observers deployed by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) confirmed that a bus which conveyed police officers from Abuja to Ekiti, two tippers, and the police station were burnt down. While there was unrest, Police and other sources said that it was unrelated to the election.

VERDICT:  PARTLY CORRECT 

SOURCE: Ekiti State Police and CJID Election Observers.

DATE: June 20, 2026.

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Sunday Awosoro

EDITORS: Kemi Busari  and Simbiat Bakare

 

CLAIM 2

A Facebook user shares a picture as evidence of massive voter turnout in Ado-Ekiti.

FINDINGS

Manual examination of the image reveals characteristics consistent with AI-generated images. We analysed the image using multiple AI detection tools, such as AI or Not and Deep AI. The results show that the images were 99% and 97% AI-generated, respectively. Also, we used Google Reverse Image Search on the image, but we found no source for it. 

VERDICT: INCORRECT

SOURCES: AI or Not and DeepAI

DATE: June 20, 2026.

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Lademi Aborisade

EDITORS: Opeyemi Kehinde, Kemi Busari and Simbiat Bakare

 

CLAIM 3

CLAIM: An X user claimed  (archived here) that the All Progressive Congress (APC) is not involved in financial inducement or vote buying in the Ekiti State 2026 gubernatorial election.

​FINDINGS: 

The claim is contradicted by field reports and media coverage from the election. A video published by Sahara Reporters captured a resident confirming that votes were indeed being sold at a polling unit. Additionally, Punch Newspaper reported that allegations of vote buying involving APC supporters led to a violent clash with supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), resulting in an injury. A resident contacted by the Nigerian Fact-checkers Coalition also confirmed witnessing vote-buying activities.

VERDICT: INCORRECT

​SOURCES: Sahara Reporters and Punch Newspaper.

​DATE: June 20, 2026.

FACT CHECK  AUTHOR: Zainab Abdulrasaq

EDITORS: Opeyemi Kehinde and Simbiat Bakare

CLAIM 4

An X user, @DaddyTwinzz, posted photos of a branded sachet of alcohol, claiming it is being used to buy votes in the ongoing Ekiti state election.

FINDINGS

Closer inspection of the photo and a Google Reverse Image Search revealed that the branded sachet gin was used as a campaign material by Hon Adewale Olatunji during the 2025 Ibadan North By-Elections. 

There is no link between the sachet alcohol and the ongoing Ekiti state elections.

VERDICT: MISLEADING 

Sources: Google Reverse Image Search, InsideOyo

DATE: June 20, 2026

FACT CHECK AUTHOR: Rebecca Ogungbure

EDITORS: Kemi Busari and Simbiat Bakare

 

 

 

Ekiti Poll: Elderly, PWDs prioritised across polling units

Mustapha USMAN
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Ekiti Poll: Elderly, PWDs prioritised across polling units

ELDERLY voters and persons with disabilities (PWDs) received priority at several polling units across Ekiti State on Saturday, June 20, as voting commenced in the state’s governorship election.

The election is being contested by 12 political parties, with over one million registered voters expected to decide whether Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secures a second term or a new governor emerges.

At Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi, in Ijero Local Government Area, 80-year-old Wale Olabode was among the early voters at Governor Oyebanji’s polling unit.

Olabode said she had been participating in elections since she was 20 and was among those accorded priority as voting got underway.

At Polling Unit 002, located in front of Olarewaju Compound in Ijero Ward, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development’s (CJID) election observers reported that persons with disabilities were given priority during the voting process, although some elderly voters were seen waiting in line as polling officials attended to voters.

At Polling Unit 004, St. Silas Primary School II, Egboigidi, in Omuo Oke I Ward of Ekiti East Local Government Area, voters comprising youths, elderly men and women gathered early to verify their names and polling unit details before joining the voting process.

Meanwhile, at Polling Unit 004 opposite G.A.B Shopping Mall at Palace Square in Emure Local Government Area, election officials conducted voter orientation shortly before voting commenced.

Community leaders at the polling unit urged residents to remain peaceful throughout the exercise and encouraged polling officers to prioritise pregnant women and elderly voters in line with local practice.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election across 2,445 polling units located in 177 wards across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Ahead of the poll, INEC distributed sensitive and non-sensitive election materials to registration area centres and polling units and assured voters of the readiness of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

Security agencies also deployed personnel across the state, while authorities imposed restrictions on vehicular movement from midnight to 6 p.m. to ensure a smooth electoral process.

Governor Oyebanji, who won the 2022 governorship election with 187,057 votes, is seeking another four-year term against candidates from 11 political parties.

As of the time of filing this report, voting was ongoing in the polling units monitored with election officials attending to voters and priority groups, including the elderly, pregnant women and persons with disabilities.

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