Yiaga Africa Identifies Flashpoints As INEC Distribution Of Election Materials In Ekiti

[00:00:00]7, I am Veronica Dan Egboy. It is less than 48 hours to the governorship election in Ekiti State and the Independent National Electoral Commission, that's INEC, has distributed sensitive materials for the conduct of the exercise. Senior correspondent Sharon Ijasan has details.

[00:00:24]>> 16 local government areas, 177 wards, over 2,000 polling units, 13 political parties all set to contest the state governorship election.

[00:00:38]But first, the distribution of sensitive materials to the three senatorial districts.

[00:00:45]>> This year we expect free, fair, transparent, all-inclusive election on June 20, 2026.

[00:00:56]And this is the part of the process of fairness, that's why I invited all the political parties, uh civil society organization, international observers, and all the stakeholders to come and witness the distribution of the material. So, on Saturday, we are ready. I believe that definitely, by God's grace, we are going to set up by 8:00 and voting will start by 8:30.

[00:01:18]>> The Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies are ready for this election.

[00:01:27]And we have been um deploying adequately to all the local governments. Also, provision has been made for police officers that will cover all the collation centers, all the INEC facilities, and also to provide adequate security for all electoral um workers as well as voters that will be coming out coming out. And um we have also made provisions, security provisions in forest as well that are bordering some of these states that I have mentioned.

[00:02:05]>> Observers and civil society groups have reacted to the development as political analysts expect the forthcoming election to be one of Nigeria's most closely watched off-cycle elections.

[00:02:18]>> I'm proposing that we we begin a system that helps us to reduce cost by ensuring that trust in the process is increased in a way that INEC officials who manage these elections, who come to take these materials, can do so.

[00:02:33]It's a political It's a wet political culture for our people.

[00:02:36]>> Analysts believe that this off-cycle election is a test case of the election that will be coming up in February 2027 in Nigeria. For now, the materials are moving and the countdown to the Saturday election has officially begun. Sharon Ijasan, TVC News, Ekiti.

[00:02:57]>> Well, TVC News senior correspondent Sharon Ijasan joins me on the news at 7:00 for more on INEC's level of preparedness. Sharon, you're on the ground. Paint us a picture of this level of preparedness because what we often hear from INEC on days like this is that they are prepared, but on the day of election, we still get to see some hitches logistically often a time.

[00:03:23]>> Well, it's It's a cool evening here in Ado-Ekiti, and I can tell you that after spending most of the hours of the better day at INEC office in Ado-Ekiti, I can tell you that all of the local governments have received sensitive materials ahead of the election on Saturday. One thing is for sure, INEC has showed preparedness and readiness for this general for this gubernatorial election that will take place on Saturday, the mood of the citizens here and residents here is actually up. Their spirit is high. Um they can't wait for Saturday for them to um perform their civic um responsibility.

[00:04:06]>> Interesting because we saw quite an increase in the number of um voter registration from what it used to be. I I guess that's also speaks to the level of preparedness that you're speaking about.

[00:04:22]>> Well, um from the data given, we have more than 1 million um residents of Ekiti State that have actually collected their PVCs. So, the um this um the INEC INEC is ready for them. The security apparatus is also ready for this number of um registered um voters to come out um on Saturday to perform their civic responsibility.

[00:04:45]Remember that Ekiti State actually has 16 local government area and um for for now, we know that there are some hot spots pot potential hot spots which has been identified like Ikere local government, Ikole, and some other places. Some people even identified Ado Ekiti as an active sports to look out for on Saturday. But, the um security apparatuses have actually deployed their men. Um tomorrow, there will be um a significant event to um show force that they are ready and available to um actually serve the citizens. The Commissioner of Police here announced toll-free numbers for residents to call if they feel there's an incident that needs um attention. So, right now as I speak in Ekiti, everything seems calm.

[00:05:32]The residents are ready for the election on Saturday, and um everyone is so has their candidates already, and they can't wait to perform their civic responsibility.

[00:05:43]>> Interesting. As much as the people are ready, INEC is ready. How about the parties? What are you hearing regarding them?

[00:05:54]>> Well, it's a mixed reaction as regards the parties. When I visited INEC office today, we had party agents. We had party agents there. Um and election observers they were on ground to ensure that they monitor the process of the sensitive materials moving from the CBN office down to other local government areas. So, I can tell you for sure that the parties are alert.

[00:06:19]They are observing and for whatever observation that they have they are communicating it to their appropriate authorities. Um I also have one of my colleagues here in Ekiti, Rafiu Ahmed, who was who had attended a press conference of one of the leading election observation group here in Ado-Ekiti. Over to you, Ahmed.

[00:06:41]>> Uh thank you, Sharon. Uh the YIAGA Africa has called on the Nigerian police and other security agencies to ensure they embark on intelligence or the sustained intelligence-led deployment, especially to identified flashpoints to prevent loss of lives and property before, during, and after the election.

[00:07:03]You have details in this report.

[00:07:11]>> Council with support from the European Union under its Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria program.

[00:07:19]Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, CP Ayobami Shogunle assured residents of adequate security before, during, and after the election, noting that extensive measures have been put in place by the police, particularly in border communities adjoining neighboring states.

[00:07:36]According to him, the security arrangements are expected to boost public confidence and encourage greater voter turnout during the election.

[00:07:43]>> All right. With the security approach we have on ground, I'm confident that this election will be violent-free.

[00:07:55]And this election will be concluded without any serious security breach.

[00:08:07]Because the likely things that might cause security issues have already been taken care of.

[00:08:18]>> 100 media organizations and about 500 journalists have been accredited to cover the election.

[00:08:25]CP Abayomi Shogunle urged media practitioners to uphold professionalism by ensuring that only verified and accurate information is disseminated to the public.

[00:08:36]>> Our police officers and security agencies involved in this election, they have instruction to prioritize requests, information, comments from journalists on the field regarding their observations.

[00:08:57]But generally, we have adequate security for everyone, including the voters.

[00:09:03]>> According to INEC, Ekiti State has a total of 1 million, 59,360 registered voters with a permanent voter card collection rate of 97.1%.

[00:09:15]Eligible voters are expected to cast their ballots in 2,445 polling units spread across the state. Though CP Abayomi Shogunle declined to speak on the total number of personnel deployed for this election, he assured adequate protection of voters, election stakeholders, and residents of the state. Rafiu Hamit, TVC News, Ado-Ekiti.

[00:09:39]>> Well, Rafiu, you were there when the police commissioner was speaking. And earlier on, when Sharon was speaking with us, she talked about hotspots. I wonder if the commissioner of police also mentioned deployments of police personnel to these areas, if they had that in their consideration when making deployments.

[00:10:02]>> Yes, the police is somewhat prepared according to what CP Shola said.

[00:10:09]They said all the 16 local governments the police is ready to deploy that they have already deployed to those areas.

[00:10:17]The concern of the police is that in all the local government they have identified some flashpoints particularly in Ado-Ekiti which is the state capital.

[00:10:27]Particularly in Ado-Ekiti which is the Some other areas particularly. They also mentioned about the fact that the issue of kidnapping that happened in Ilejemeje and in Moba local government a few weeks ago and they have already deployed to that place to ensure that security of life and property is secured in that area.

[00:10:51]>> All right, thank you Rafiu for bringing us up to speed with the level of security presence and deployments made for the governorship election and also thank you Sharon for also bringing us up to speed. We'll keep tabs with you for more developments coming out of Ekiti regarding the governorship election.

[00:11:13]Now still to come on the news, Nigeria's governors forum back on going efforts to establish [music] state police. We have details of that story and more after the break. Stay with us.

[00:11:35]>> Woo!