There were mixed developments across several local government areas of Ekiti State on Friday evening as the Independent National Electoral Commission finalised preparations for Saturday’s governorship election, with delays, logistical gaps and pockets of efficient deployment recorded.
Findings from multiple Registration Area Centres (RACs) across the state on Thursday, as provided by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) to PLATFORM TIMES, indicated that while some centres were fully set up with electoral materials and personnel, others remained deserted or received materials late, raising concerns over uniform readiness.
In Oye Local Government Area, St. Mary Primary School RAC serving Oye Wards 1 and 2 was still empty as of 5:45pm despite its proximity to the INEC headquarters. Similarly, in Ijero LGA, facilities at Ipoti Development Council Hall and Court Hall remained deserted as of early evening, with no officials or materials on ground.
A comparable situation was observed in Ilejemeje LGA, where observers reported the absence of electoral officers and materials at Iye 2 and Umuroko Town Hall, with officials reportedly searching for resting spots without any visible coordination.
In Irepodun/Ifelodun LGA, several RACs, including those in Igede and Iropora/Esure/Eyo, showed no sign of activity as of early evening, with neither materials nor officials present. At one “Super RAC” in Igede, even security personnel were absent despite its closeness to the INEC office.
However, the situation improved later in the evening in many areas as materials began to arrive and officials mobilised.
In Ekiti East LGA, election materials were delivered to Community Grammar School in Kota I, while supervisory presiding officers commenced attendance of polling staff. At another RAC in Egboigidi, materials were sorted under police presence, with officials separating sensitive and non-sensitive items.
In Ado Ekiti, preparations appeared more coordinated, as officials confirmed the distribution of non-sensitive materials, availability of water, electricity and generators, and proper documentation of polling units. However, one ward experienced a temporary absence of officials who reportedly returned to the INEC office.
In Efon LGA, sensitive materials were distributed to RACs under the watch of security personnel, although technical issues such as faulty generators were reported at some centres.
Similarly, in Ise/Orun LGA, officials confirmed full deployment of both sensitive and non-sensitive materials, with generators and security in place, although some polling officers were yet to report at certain centres.
In Ikere LGA, RACs were largely set, with materials confirmed complete, though distribution to polling units had yet to commence as of early evening. A presiding officer was also reported to have withdrawn on health grounds.
Meanwhile, in Ekiti West LGA, the process was briefly disrupted by confusion involving National Youth Service Corps members, some of whom protested after discovering their names were missing from INEC’s deployment list despite undergoing training.
Observers also reported restricted access to INEC facilities in some areas. In Oye LGA headquarters, a police officer reportedly denied access to an accredited observer, preventing documentation of activities.
Despite the early setbacks, electoral officers across multiple LGAs, including Ado, Ekiti East, Ido/Osi, Moba, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ilejemeje and Ise/Orun, later confirmed that all Registration Area Centres had been activated and were ready for the election.
INEC officials maintained that the delays recorded in some centres were addressed before nightfall, expressing confidence in the overall preparedness for the poll.
The governorship election is scheduled to hold across the state on Saturday, with voters expected to cast their ballots in all polling units.
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