The Ekiti State stakeholders in the forth coming election in the state have promised to approach the exercise with transparency and ensure a Hitch- Free election come June 20.
This agreement was reached at the closing ceremony of a 2- day “Ekiti State Government Media- Led Stakeholders’ Dialogue on Credible Election” organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the Centre for Media and Society(CEMESO) and sponsored by the European Union.
The Public Relations Officer of the Police Command, SP Sunday Abutu, in an interactive session with journalists at the programme said the Police Force has vowed to clamp down on vote buying, thuggery and other electoral malpractices during the 2026 governorship election in the state, while also assuring residents that security agencies will adopt strong measures to ensure a credible, free and fair poll.
The stakeholders present at the meeting were officials of the Nigeria Police Force, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), among others.
Abutu, who said the command would be firm in tackling vote buying and vote trading during the election, acknowledged that criminal elements often attempt to undermine electoral processes but assured that the police had strategies in place to prevent such activities.
He noted that the police would continue to work with relevant stakeholders to maintain peace and order, stressing that the joint objective of all actors involved in the electoral process is to deliver a credible election in the state.
According to him, the command is already aware of the tense political atmosphere often associated with elections and would remain proactive in addressing emerging security threats.
“We are going to be tough on vote buying and trading. We will always have criminal elements, and that is why we have the police. They will try to beat our strategies, but we will deploy our forces to prevent that menace”. he said.
Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Bunmi Omosehindemi, emphasised that voter education and proper accreditation processes are critical to the success of any election.
Omosehindemi described transparency as a key ingredient for credible polls and urged the media to serve as agenda setters by promoting responsible reporting during the election period.
He assured journalists of unfettered access to information, noting that the electoral body was strengthening mechanisms aimed at enhancing transparency throughout the electoral process.
Omosehindemi disclosed that the commission was working closely with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the state to ensure that only accredited journalists are allowed to cover the election.
According to him, all journalists coming to cover the poll would be registered at designated centres in order to screen out unqualified individuals posing as media practitioners.
He added that the commission maintains zero tolerance for intimidation, arrest or harassment of journalists performing their lawful duties, urging security agencies to ensure that media professionals are not subjected to harassment while covering the election.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ekiti State Council, Kayode Babatuyi, said the union had taken steps to curb the spread of fake news among media practitioners.
While commending the organisers of the programme, Babatuyi said journalism remains a dynamic profession that requires constant training and capacity building.
He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organise more training for journalists on the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act to deepen their understanding of the electoral framework.
Babatuyi noted that the NUJ had brought journalists in the state under one umbrella to enhance accountability and enable the union to track activities and stories in case of disputes.
The NUJ Chairman also disclosed that the union was developing initiatives aimed at addressing voter apathy by encouraging citizens to come out and exercise their civic responsibilities during the election.
On her part, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Ekiti State, Adewunmi Ademiju, said women journalists would play an active role in promoting accurate information ahead of the election.
Ademiju noted that women constitute a significant portion of the population and therefore have a critical role to play in shaping public discourse during the electoral process.
She disclosed that NAWOJ would embark on fact-checking initiatives aimed at ensuring that accurate data and verified information are disseminated to the public.
Earlier, the Executive Director of IPC, Lanre Arogundade, called for the safety of journalists and prompt investigation of any attacks on media personnel while they perform electoral duties.
He stressed that protecting reporters on the field is essential to credible election coverage and democratic accountability.
