…Yiaga Africa tasks INEC on transparency, security on neutrality
…IPC urges journalists to be professional, safety-conscious

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday distributed sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The exercise was monitored by security agencies, civil society organisations, political party agents, and the media to ensure transparency.

Speaking during the distribution, the Ekiti State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, expressed confidence that the election would be peaceful, credible, and transparent.
He said the process involved the sorting and distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all local government areas, beginning with the farthest councils.
“This process is being coordinated by the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State. We also have representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, and the media covering the exercise,” he said.

“What we are seeing is the sorting and distribution of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials to each of the 16 local government areas. As stated, we are starting with the farthest LGAs.
“INEC is providing the platform for citizens to exercise their right to vote. This is the process, and we are committed to ensuring it is properly carried out.
“Our message is that people should vote for candidates of their choice and that the election will be conducted in a peaceful atmosphere. Ekiti has been peaceful, and we promise a free, fair, transparent, and inclusive election,” he added.

On security arrangements, the Commissioner of Police in charge of the election, Dr. Abayomi Shogunle, said the Inspector-General of Police had deployed a multi-layered security framework to safeguard the electoral process and prevent any breakdown of law and order.
He said the deployment was informed by intelligence reports, risk assessments, and stakeholder inputs.
“We have considered different inputs apart from our own intelligence reports. We have also considered risk assessments carried out by different stakeholders,” he said.
“The operational order approved by the Inspector-General of Police is based on a multi-layered security framework. We have identified different elements and put in place corresponding measures to address them.

“This multi-layered approach ensures that even if one layer is breached, another will respond effectively,” he added.
In its pre-election briefing, Yiaga Africa warned that vote buying remains a major threat to the integrity of the Ekiti election.
It urged INEC, security agencies, and anti-corruption bodies to proactively identify, arrest, and prosecute offenders involved in vote buying on election day.

The organisation also acknowledged the efforts of security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in coordinating election security arrangements.
While noting that the security environment remains relatively calm, Yiaga Africa raised concerns about insecurity in parts of the state, particularly in hotspot local government areas such as Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Oye, and Ikere.
It also expressed concern over the movement of voters, election officials, observers, party agents, and election materials during collation in Ilejemeje and Moba LGAs, citing recent kidnapping incidents that could affect public confidence and movement, especially after 7:00 p.m.

In separate remarks, the Independent Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) described journalists’ deployment for the Ekiti governorship election as not just a professional assignment but a democratic responsibility.
At a media parley, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, and his counterpart at CEMESO, Dr. Akin Akingbulu, emphasised the critical role of the media in strengthening electoral transparency and accountability.
Arogundade warned that harassment of journalists undermines democratic accountability.
“When a journalist is harassed, barred, or attacked at a polling unit, it is not just that individual who suffers; it is the electorate that is denied the witness it deserves,” he said.

He also cautioned journalists to remain non-partisan in both action and appearance, noting that electoral coverage requires strict professionalism.
“Journalists covering the elections should ensure they are fully kitted and accredited. Those not on election duty should avoid polling units during the election period,” he said.
He further advised journalists to visibly display their identification cards and press tags at all times and report any threats or harassment to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State chapter.