Ekiti Poll: INEC Partners EFCC, ICPC to Combat Vote Buying

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is working closely with anti-corruption agencies to curb vote buying and ensure a credible governorship election in Ekiti State on June 20.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), disclosed this on Thursday during a strategic consultative meeting with the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers in Ado-Ekiti, where he assured stakeholders of the commission’s neutrality and readiness for the poll.

According to him, the commission has activated collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to identify, arrest and prosecute individuals involved in inducement of voters around polling centres.

“The Commission is working in strict alignment with the EFCC and the ICPC to arrest and prosecute financial agents attempting to buy votes around our polling units,” Amupitan said.

He urged traditional rulers to sensitise their communities against the practice, warning that exchanging votes for money undermines democratic values and compromises the future of the electorate.

The INEC chairman stressed that the commission has no preferred candidate in the election and would remain guided solely by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the wishes of voters.

“As the Chairman of this Commission, I give you my solemn pledge: INEC has no candidate in this election. We are completely independent, neutral and dispassionate,” he stated.

Amupitan said the Ekiti governorship election presents an opportunity to demonstrate the country’s preparedness for the 2027 General Election, describing the exercise as a potential benchmark for electoral administration and security management.

He noted that although the commission would simultaneously conduct legislative bye-elections in several states on the same day, attention to the Ekiti election would remain uncompromised.

In a move aimed at increasing voter participation, the INEC chairman also approved an extension of the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in the state until Sunday.

He appealed to traditional rulers to continue promoting peace and discouraging political actors from actions capable of causing tension before, during and after the election.

Responding on behalf of the traditional institution, the Acting Chairman of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers and Ajero of Ijero, Oba Joseph Adebayo Adewole, called for the creation of additional electoral wards and polling units in the state.

The monarch argued that the state’s population had grown significantly since the current wards and polling units were established about three decades ago.

He also advocated an increase in the number of federal constituencies in Ekiti to at least nine, saying the existing structure no longer reflects demographic realities.

Oba Adewole urged INEC to make the Ekiti governorship election a model for future polls, adding that the state had largely moved beyond the era of election-related violence.