By Darlington Onedibe | DailyQuery
Voting has officially commenced across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State for the 2026 gubernatorial election, characterized by an impressive, multi-generational turnout.
From the early hours of Saturday, long queues began forming at various polling units, showcasing a vibrant mix of eager young first-time voters and determined senior citizens ready to cast their ballots.
Officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) arrived early at most polling stations, with accreditation and voting kicking off on schedule.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) has reportedly been highly efficient, processing voters within minutes and minimizing the delays that often plague early-morning voting.
“The process was incredibly fast,” said 21-year-old Tunde Adebayo, voting at a polling unit in Ado-Ekiti. “I was worried about the queues, but the machine verified my fingerprint and face almost instantly. I’m glad my voice will count.”
In an inspiring display of civic duty, elderly citizens turned out in significant numbers, many assisted by relatives or walking with the aid of staffs.
Following INEC guidelines, polling officials and fellow voters actively granted preferential, front-of-the-line access to seniors, nursing mothers, and persons with disabilities.
Security personnel, deployed extensively across the state, maintained absolute order, ensuring a calm atmosphere. A state-wide restriction on vehicular movement remains strictly in place until 6:00 PM to ensure public safety and smooth logistics.
With over one million registered voters eligible to participate, today’s election features 14 cleared candidates. The race is a critical test for the leading political parties as the state decides its leadership for the next four years.
As voting continues under peaceful conditions, election observers from various Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) are monitoring the ground closely, urging all stakeholders to maintain the peaceful momentum as results begin to filter into the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) later today.
