Ekiti 2026: Police Warn Against Vote Buying, Vow Strict Crackdown

The Ekiti State Police Command has vowed to clamp down on vote buying and other electoral offences ahead of the 2026 governorship election, assuring residents of a credible process.

The command said it would deploy adequate security measures to arrest offenders and deter criminal activities that could undermine the poll scheduled for June 20.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, who spoke on behalf of the commissioner of police in Ado-Ekiti, gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ dialogue on credible elections.

The forum was organised by the International Press Centre in collaboration with the Centre for Media and Society, with support from the European Union.

Abutu stated that the police were fully prepared to confront vote trading, noting that such illegal practices would not be tolerated during the election.

“We are going to be tough on vote buying and trading. Criminal elements may try to outsmart security agencies, but we will deploy our men strategically to curb the menace,” he said.

He added that the command was already anticipating potential security threats and would collaborate with relevant stakeholders to maintain peace before, during, and after the election.

Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omosehindemi, emphasised the importance of voter education and strict adherence to accreditation procedures to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process.