The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ekiti State has called on stakeholders to deepen collaboration and intensify voter education ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the state, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, made the appeal during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Ado-Ekiti, where he stressed the need for collective efforts to ensure a free, fair, credible, inclusive and peaceful poll.
According to him, the approach of the election makes it necessary to properly enlighten voters, counter misinformation, discourage fake news, promote peaceful participation and build public confidence in the electoral process.
He said there was also the need to strengthen publicity efforts so that vital election information would reach rural communities, first-time voters and other hard-to-reach areas across the 16 local government areas of the state.
Dr. Omoseyindemi noted that gender equality and inclusivity must remain a priority, stressing that democracy can only be truly representative when no group is excluded.
He identified key Ekiti-specific concerns requiring urgent attention to include misinformation, politically motivated narratives, vote-buying tendencies, security challenges in flashpoint areas and voter apathy in some communities.
The REC reminded stakeholders that their roles in advocacy, community engagement and information dissemination were crucial to the success of the election, urging civil society organisations, security agencies and development partners to take ownership of the process.
He also called for deliberate efforts to guarantee the participation of women, youths, Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and other marginalised groups in the electoral process.
Speaking at the meeting, the Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Ekiti State, Mrs. Kemi Akomolede, assured participants that the agency was working closely with other stakeholders to support a successful governorship election. The meeting was attended by INEC officials drawn from all the sixteen local government areas of the state.
