The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Ekiti State governorship election, Abayomi Shogunle, has vowed that security agencies will heavily clamp down on vote buying, political thuggery, and any form of electoral violence during Saturday’s off-cycle election.
Speaking ahead of the June 20, 2026 ballot, Shogunle assured residents that comprehensive security measures have been deployed across all 16 Local Government Areas to guarantee a peaceful, transparent, and credible voting process.
Addressing reporters in Ado-Ekiti, the capital city, the police chief emphasized that the security apparatus will maintain strict neutrality but will remain ruthless against elements trying to disrupt the democratic exercise.
He alluded that plainclothes operatives and anti-graft agencies will be stationed to monitor and instantly arrest individuals engaging in “cash-for-votes” or other illicit transactional voting.
He declosed that armed patrols have been deployed to flashpoints across the state’s 177 wards to prevent intimidation, ballot-snatching, or disruption by political thugs.
There will be strict enforcement of the vehicular movement restriction will be maintained on election day, except for essential workers and accredited observers.
With over one million registered voters expected to exercise their franchise across 2,445 polling units, the police leadership urged the electorate to come out without fear of harassment.
”We are fully prepared to ensure that the will of the Ekiti people is not compromised by violence or financial inducement,” Shogunle stated. “Anyone caught attempting to undermine this election, no matter their political affiliation or status, will face the full weight of the law.”
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has finalized the distribution of sensitive materials, and security agencies are working in close synergy to protect the electoral staff, observers, and local communities during the high-stakes poll.
