By our Reporter
The Independent National Electoral Commission has stepped up preparations for the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, with the Chairman of the Commission, Joash Ojo Amupitan, leading a high-level readiness assessment tour across the state.
Prof. Amupitan, accompanied by National Commissioners and senior officials of the Commission, visited Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area, Ado-Ekiti and Ikere Local Government Area to assess the level of preparedness for the off-cycle poll.
As part of the visit, the INEC Chairman paid a courtesy call on the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe Aladesanmi III, where he sought royal blessings and support for the successful conduct of the election.
“We are on a national assignment and seek your prayers and support to build a legacy Nigerians will continue to remember,” Amupitan stated during the meeting.
The visit also featured an emotional reunion between the INEC Chairman and one of his former teachers, Mr. Ogunmodimu, whom he credited for positively shaping his early academic journey and personal development.
The Commission’s delegation later met with leaders of the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Ekiti State, where discussions focused on transportation logistics for the election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said INEC had intensified preparations through stakeholder engagements, voter education campaigns, security coordination, logistics planning and the deployment of technology aimed at ensuring a credible poll.
He described the engagement with transport union leaders as strategic, noting that transportation remains central to the movement of electoral personnel, sensitive materials and voters, especially in remote areas.
Also speaking, the Supervising National Commissioner, Sam Olumekun, stressed that effective transportation logistics would be critical to the Commission’s success on election day.
According to him, INEC is determined to ensure that polling units open by 8:30 a.m., adding that all vehicles and drivers must be stationed at Registration Area Centres before noon on the eve of the election.
Olumekun appealed to political actors and transport unions to maintain peace and cooperate with the Commission to preserve Ekiti State’s reputation for credible elections.
Prof. Amupitan also disclosed that coordination between Electoral Officers and transport unions was already ongoing across the state. He urged drivers and transport operators to see their involvement as a patriotic contribution to national development and warned against the use of faulty vehicles or partisan conduct capable of undermining the election.
Other National Commissioners, including Sani Adams, Ken Ukeagu, May Agbamuche-Mbu, and Kunle Ajayi, also emphasised the need for professionalism, neutrality, early activation of situation rooms and strict compliance with operational guidelines.
Responding on behalf of the transport union, the Ekiti State NURTW leader, Olayide Adesina, assured the Commission of the union’s full cooperation, pledging that the governorship election would be peaceful, seamless and successful across the state.
