Ekiti 2026: INEC boss, Amupitan, IGP Disu, others present as 13 political parties sign peace accord

In anticipation of the governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, in Ekiti State, 13 political parties involved in the election signed a peace accord on Thursday, committing to uphold peace before, during, and after the electoral process.

Among those who signed was Biodun Oyebanji, the Governor of Ekiti State and the candidate representing the All Progressives Congress, APC, who reiterated the dedication of both residents and political stakeholders in the state to maintaining peace throughout the electoral journey.

During the event, Joash Amupitan, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, called on political parties and their supporters to embody the spirit of the agreement, rather than merely signing the document.

He stated that Ekiti has built a reputation for political consciousness and peaceful behaviour, emphasising that stakeholders must work to preserve this image during the election.

Amupitan praised the National Peace Committee for its ongoing efforts to foster democratic stability and mitigate electoral tensions nationwide.

He pointed out that following the successful application of the peace accord mechanism during the Anambra governorship election in November 2025, INEC is committed to implementing a similar model in Ekiti.

The INEC chairman elaborated that the commission has expanded the peace accord initiative to off-cycle governorship elections since its inception in Edo State in September 2020, highlighting that this framework has become institutionalised in various states.

He announced that 1,059,360 registered voters are expected to participate in the Ekiti governorship election, with plans for deployment across the state’s 16 local government areas, 177 registration areas, and 2,445 polling units.

Amupitan also disclosed that INEC is mobilising 52,446 National Youth Service Corps members for the forthcoming off-cycle governorship elections and bye-elections in states such as Ekiti, Osun, Nasarawa, Enugu, Rivers, Ondo, Kebbi, and Kano.

He indicated that the commission had enhanced logistics, technology, and result management systems to guarantee a credible election, while cautioning against vote-buying, voter intimidation, and political violence.

The INEC chairman also mentioned that 54 media organisations and 470 journalists had sought accreditation to cover the election, while 96 domestic and two international observer groups had also received accreditation.

He emphasised that leadership achieved through violence and incitement would constitute a hollow victory, urging political figures to educate their supporters on maintaining peaceful conduct during the election period.

The Chairman of the National Peace Committee and former Head of State, Abdulsalami Abubakar, represented by Martin Agwai, characterised the peace accord as a collective commitment to ensuring credible, free, fair, and peaceful elections.

He called upon political parties and their supporters to denounce violence, hate speech, and electoral misconduct, stressing that no political ambition should jeopardize human lives or public peace.

Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, stated that the peace accord highlighted the necessity for elections to be a contest of ideas rather than a source of conflict.

The police chief reassured residents that security agencies, collaborating through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, had made sufficient arrangements to ensure safety across all polling units and to facilitate a peaceful, free, and credible election.

He further noted that security personnel would uphold professionalism, impartiality, and a commitment to protecting democratic values throughout the electoral process.

Ekiti 2026: INEC boss, Amupitan, IGP Disu, others present as 13 political parties sign peace accord