Ekiti Polls: INEC delists over 2,000 double registrants

By Omeiza Ajayi

ABUJA: The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC has invalidated 2,103 voter registrations identified as cases of double registration ahead of the Ekiti State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, June 20, 2026.

This was as the Commission expressed satisfaction with the overall state of its preparations for the poll.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan SAN, who disclosed this at the Commission’s Second Quarterly Consultative Meeting with leaders of political parties held at INEC headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday, said the Register of Voters for the election currently contains 1,059,360 registered voters — a figure that reflects the addition of 66,664 new voters registered during the first and second phases of the Continuous Voter Registration exercise to the 2023 register of 987,647 voters.

“In line with our commitment to maintaining the integrity of the Register, 2,103 registrations identified as cases of double registration were invalidated,” Prof. Amupitan said.

The INEC Chairman told party leaders that he had personally led a high-level delegation to Ekiti State to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the Commission’s preparedness for the election and returned satisfied with what he found. “I am pleased to report that our preparations are progressing satisfactorily,” he said.

Prof. Amupitan said logistics arrangements, election technology deployment, training of election officials, and stakeholder engagements were all proceeding according to schedule, and reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to the simultaneous opening of all 2,445 polling units across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state at 8:30 a.m. on Election Day.

He also commended participating political parties for signing a Peace Accord ahead of the poll, but was quick to caution that the accord must be more than a ceremonial exercise.

“I urge political parties to ensure that its principles are fully internalised and observed by party officials, candidates, agents and supporters throughout the electoral process,” he said.

The INEC Chairman reminded party leaders that on the same day — Saturday, June 20, 2026 — the Commission would also conduct bye-elections in six constituencies: Enugu North Senatorial District, Nasarawa North Senatorial District, Rivers South East Senatorial District, Ondo South Senatorial District, Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency of Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency of Kebbi State. He said the same operational standards, technological safeguards, and security arrangements deployed for the Ekiti governorship election would apply to all six bye-elections.

On the Osun State Governorship Election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026, he urged all political parties to comply strictly with the prescribed timelines and regulatory requirements.

“The lessons learned from Ekiti will further strengthen our preparations and enhance the efficiency of our operations in Osun State,” he said.

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