Voting ended before 3 p.m. in many polling units, paving the way for sorting and counting of ballots.
The election was conducted across 2,445 polling units in the state.
Voters across Ekiti State on Saturday trooped out to elect a governor in a closely watched governorship election that pitted candidates of major political parties against one another across the state’s 16 local government areas.
Although voting has largely ended in many polling units and collation is ongoing, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had yet to officially declare results as of 8:21 pm on Saturday.
The election witnessed a mixture of orderly voting, technical challenges, and allegations of irregularities, even as observers and many voters commended security agencies for maintaining peace throughout much of the exercise.
INEC reported that all 2,445 polling units designated for the governorship election were successfully opened earlier in the day.
According to the commission, 2,257 polling units, representing 92.31 per cent, opened on schedule before 8:30 a.m., while 188 polling units, accounting for 7.69 per cent, experienced minor delays but commenced voting before 10:30 a.m.
The commission later commenced the upload of polling unit results to its Result Viewing Portal (IReV) after the close of voting and counting in several locations.
As of 6 p.m., 846 polling unit results had been uploaded out of the expected 2,445, representing 34.60 per cent of the total results expected statewide.
Data from the portal showed that results from several wards in Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area had already been uploaded, with Iyin I Ward recording nine uploaded results out of 23 polling units, while Igbemo Ward also recorded nine uploads from its 21 polling units.
Other wards where results had begun appearing on the portal included Are Ward 02, Igede I, Igede II, Igede III, Afao, Iworoko, Iropora/Esure/Eyio, Awo and Iyin II.
The number is expected to increase steadily as collation progresses across the state.
Candidates Raise Concerns
While the election proceeded peacefully in many areas, allegations of irregularities emerged from some polling units.
The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oluwole Oluyede, expressed dissatisfaction with developments at Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 006, he alleged that many voters had been unable to vote because of problems associated with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).
He also alleged voter harassment and intimidation at the ward.
Earlier, elderly voters at the same polling unit expressed frustration after being unable to complete accreditation due to BVAS challenges and called on INEC to urgently rectify the situation.
The candidate of the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, alleged irregularities.
However, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), rejected the allegations.
Speaking with journalists after casting his vote at Polling Unit 003, Okelele, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, the governor maintained that anyone making such allegations must substantiate them with evidence.
He described the conduct of the election as satisfactory and encouraged eligible voters who had not yet voted to come out peacefully and perform their civic duty.
Counting Begins Amid Disputes
Voting ended before 3 p.m. in many polling units, paving the way for sorting and counting of ballots.
At Polling Unit 008, Ugele/Arokun Ward in Ikere Local Government Area, sorting and counting commenced at about 2:37 p.m.
However, the process became rowdy as party agents and supporters disagreed over the validity of certain ballot papers.
At Polling Unit 006, where the PDP candidate voted, voting was still ongoing as of 4 p.m. because some voters insisted on exercising their franchise despite earlier delays.
The situation later became disorderly, prompting security personnel to intervene in an effort to restore calm and maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, at Polling Unit 001, Ado D Ijigbo in Ado Local Government Area, party agents and security personnel closely monitored the voting process.
Observers Commend Turnout, Raise Electoral Concerns
Election observers generally praised the conduct of the exercise while expressing concern over certain procedural issues.
An observer and First Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Sebastian Anyia, said the process had remained peaceful and orderly, with voter turnout proving encouraging.
Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, INEC repeatedly assured Ekiti residents of its readiness to conduct a credible and transparent exercise.
Security agencies also said they had mounted extensive preparations.
The Nigeria Police Force led a multi-agency security operation involving scores of personnel deployed across the state to secure polling units, collation centres and other strategic locations.
The police imposed restrictions on vehicular movement during voting hours, intensified patrols, and warned political actors against violence, vote-buying and other electoral offences.
Security authorities consistently assured residents that adequate measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful and credible election.
As Ekiti awaits the official declaration of results, attention has shifted from the polling units to the state collation centre, where the outcome of the closely watched off-cycle governorship election is expected to emerge.
