The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed to traditional rulers in Ekiti State to intensify efforts towards ensuring a peaceful, credible and violence-free governorship election, even as it extended the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to Sunday 14/6/2026 to enable more eligible voters participate in the poll.
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, made the appeal during a meeting with members of the Ekiti State Council of Traditional Rulers at the Traditional Council Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti.
Addressing the monarchs, Professor Amupitan described traditional rulers as custodians of culture and agents of peace whose influence remains critical to the success of the electoral process.
He explained that the visit was part of his second assessment tour of the state ahead of the election, aimed at evaluating preparations on the ground and verifying reports received by the commission concerning the conduct of the poll.
The INEC Chairman said the commission had intensified logistical arrangements and other preparations to ensure a smooth exercise but stressed that the support of key stakeholders, particularly traditional rulers, remained indispensable.
According to him, voting will commence at 8 a.m. as scheduled immediately after accreditation, adding that INEC is putting measures in place to ensure election materials and personnel are deployed promptly to polling units across the state.
Professor Amupitan announced that the ongoing PVC collection exercise, which was initially scheduled to end on Thursday, 11/6/2026 had been extended until Sunday 14/6/2026 to give registered voters who are yet to collect their cards another opportunity to do so.
He urged residents not to miss the opportunity, stressing that possession of a PVC remains the only requirement for participating in the governorship election.
The INEC Chairman also called on the royal fathers to mobilise eligible voters in their communities to collect their PVCs and turn out peacefully on election day.
He noted that citizens’ participation in the electoral process would play a significant role in determining the future development and economic prosperity of the state through the election of capable leadership.
Professor Amupitan expressed concern over the history of electoral violence in some parts of the state, identifying communities in Ikere, Oye and Efon Local Government Areas among locations previously associated with election-related tensions.
He added that while areas such as Emure, Ilejemeje and Moba had witnessed heightened security concerns during past elections, the traditional rulers’ influence in such communities could help sustain peace and stability before, during and after the poll.
“Ekiti blood is too precious to be shed because of elections,” he said, urging the monarchs to use their positions to discourage violence, political thuggery and acts capable of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.
Professor Amupitan further reaffirmed INEC’s zero tolerance for vote-buying and other forms of electoral inducement, calling on traditional rulers to educate their subjects on the dangers such practices pose to democracy and good governance.
He assured the royal fathers of the commission’s commitment to conducting a free, fair, credible and widely accepted election, pledging continued collaboration with traditional institutions to promote peace and electoral integrity.
Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Owa Ajero of Ijero-Ekiti, Oba Adebayo Adewole, who presided over the meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Council and Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu, assured INEC of the monarchs’ commitment to peaceful elections in the state.
Oba Adewole recalled that previous elections had resulted in the loss of lives and destruction of property in some parts of the country, stressing that traditional rulers in Ekiti were determined to prevent a recurrence during the forthcoming governorship poll.
He pledged that the royal fathers would continue to sensitise residents on the need for peaceful conduct and lawful participation in the electoral process, while working closely with security agencies and relevant stakeholders to ensure a hitch-free election
In his votes of thanks, Ekiti State INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Bunmi Omosehindemi, thanked the traditional institutions in the state for their commitment to promoting peace and their support to the electoral umpire towards ensuring successful governorship election come June 20.
