Voters across seven states are heading to the polls today in a major electoral exercise that includes the highly anticipated Ekiti governorship election and a series of legislative bye-elections in different parts of the country.
Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ad hoc personnel and drivers were seen early in the day distributing sensitive and non-sensitive election materials from Registration Area Centres (RACs), including the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Primary School RAC Centre in Irona, Ado-Ekiti.
The Ekiti governorship election is the biggest contest among the polls taking place nationwide. A total of 1,059,360 registered voters are expected to decide whether Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) secures another mandate or whether opposition parties can stage an upset.
A coalition-backed candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ambassador Dare Bejide, is among the leading challengers seeking to unseat the incumbent governor. Other candidates in the race include Dr. Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Akande Oluwasegun Samuel of the African Action Congress (AAC), and Opeyemi Falegan of Accord Party.
Additional contenders are Ayodeji Ojo (ADP), Bidemi Olaiya Awogbemi (APP), Oyebanji Ikusayedegbe Olajuyin (Labour Party), Abegunde Ayobami Blessing (NNPP), Olaniyi Olanrewaju Ayodele (PRP), Owoola Daramola (YPP), and Victor Damilola Adetunji (ZLP). Although several of the candidates are viewed as outsiders in the race, analysts believe their collective votes could influence the final outcome of the Ekiti governorship election.
Alongside the governorship poll in Ekiti, voters in six other states are participating in legislative bye-elections.
Four senatorial bye-elections are taking place in Enugu, Rivers, Ondo and Nasarawa states, while Kano and Kebbi states are conducting elections to fill vacant seats in the House of Representatives and state assembly respectively. The elections are expected to test the strength of political parties ahead of future national contests and could reshape representation in affected constituencies.
INEC officials commenced early distribution of election materials across designated centres as part of efforts to ensure smooth voting processes. The commission has repeatedly assured voters of its readiness to conduct credible elections, while security agencies have deployed personnel to maintain order across polling locations.
As voting progresses from Ekiti to Kebbi, Rivers to Nasarawa, and from Ondo to Kano and Enugu, attention remains focused on turnout, logistics and the eventual outcomes that could influence the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
