13 Political Parties Sign Peace Accord Ahead of Ekiti Governorship Poll
Oru Leonard
Thirteen political parties participating in the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State have signed a peace accord, pledging to ensure peaceful conduct before, during and after the election.
Among the signatories was Governor Biodun Oyebanji, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who reaffirmed the state’s commitment to peaceful elections.
Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, warned political parties against vote buying, electoral violence and voter intimidation, stressing that offenders would be arrested and prosecuted by security agencies, including the police, EFCC and ICPC.
Amupitan disclosed that 1,059,360 registered voters are eligible to participate in the election across 16 local government areas, 177 registration areas and 2,445 polling units in the state. He added that INEC had completed major preparations for the poll, including logistics deployment and collaboration with security agencies.
The INEC chairman said 54 media organisations, 470 journalists, 96 domestic observer groups and two international observer groups had been accredited for the election.
Representing former Head of State and Chairman of the National Peace Committee, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Gen. Martin Agwai urged political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns and avoid violence, noting that no political ambition was worth the loss of lives.
Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu assured residents of adequate security during the election, promising professionalism and impartiality from security personnel.
Amupitan also urged political parties to mobilise voters peacefully and assured Nigerians that votes would count, citing improvements recorded during the recent Anambra governorship election.
