Ekiti June Election: INEC Flags Flashpoints for Thuggery, Kidnapping, Ballot Snatching

By Omoyeni Ojeifo

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has raised concerns over security threats ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, warning that risk assessments across the state have uncovered flashpoints vulnerable to thuggery, kidnapping, cultism, ballot snatching and vandalism.

The Commission said no fewer than 469 polling units had been identified as high-risk areas requiring special security attention during the election.

INEC disclosed this in a statement obtained by Persecondnews on Friday, as preparations intensified for the governorship poll.

The electoral body said security agencies had already been mobilised to secure vulnerable locations, particularly polling units situated within a 500-metre radius of identified flashpoints.

“We are working closely with security agencies to secure identified vulnerable polling units and ensure voter safety,” INEC stated.

The Commission also warned politicians and their supporters against vote buying and other electoral offences, noting that it had strengthened collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to track, arrest and prosecute offenders.

“INEC will not tolerate electoral malpractice, including vote buying and other forms of electoral corruption,” it added.

INEC said it had intensified logistical and technical preparations for the election, including configuration of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), recruitment of ad-hoc staff through the INECPRES portal and arrangements for the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) across the 177 wards in the state.

Dr. Ken Ukeagu, National Commissioner in charge of the Planning, Monitoring and Strategy Committee (PMSC), said intelligence gathered during the April risk assessment exposed major security gaps and potential threats capable of undermining the election.

He called for tighter border surveillance and improved coordination among members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, identified political violence, misinformation, transport challenges, insecurity in remote communities and vote buying as major threats to the electoral process.

He said the Commission had strengthened voter education, stakeholder engagement, logistics planning and training of election personnel ahead of the poll.

Ekiti State Police Commissioner Falade Micheal assured residents that security agencies had activated coordinated operational strategies and intelligence-sharing mechanisms before, during and after the election.

INEC reaffirmed its commitment to conducting a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election in the state.

Persecondnews recalls that Ekiti is one of the states conducting off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Nigeria, with the poll scheduled for June 20 2026.