Ekiti Parties Sign Peace Accord Ahead of June 20 Election

ADO-EKITI — Political parties and governorship candidates in Ekiti State have signed a formal Peace Accord ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election. The signing ceremony took place on Thursday, May 21. Signatories pledged to conduct their campaigns without violence, hate speech, or intimidation.

The Peace Accord was facilitated by the Inter-Party Advisory Council, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and traditional rulers in the state. The Ekiti State Government also participated in the process, committing to create a level playing field for all parties.

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu said security agencies are ready for the Ekiti election. He assured voters and candidates that the police will deploy adequate officers across all local government areas and polling units to maintain order on election day.

“The Nigeria Police Force will ensure that every eligible voter in Ekiti State can exercise their right freely and without fear. We will not allow any form of electoral violence,” Disu said at the signing ceremony.

Why Ekiti Matters

Ekiti State is one of the first off-cycle elections of 2026. The outcome will be closely watched as a barometer of how Nigeria’s electoral environment is evolving ahead of the bigger 2027 general elections. Strong parties and civil society groups view every election as an opportunity to test and improve electoral systems.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC is the incumbent seeking re-election. Opposition parties including the PDP, LP, and ADC have all fielded candidates. The election is expected to be competitive, given Ekiti’s history of close gubernatorial contests.

Furthermore, INEC has deployed its new election technology systems for the Ekiti exercise. The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System will be used at all polling units. INEC said all electoral materials have been procured and will be deployed to the state ahead of June 20.

Civil Society Monitoring

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations for Free and Fair Elections has deployed observers across Ekiti State. The group said it will monitor voter registration, party campaigns, and the election itself for any irregularities.

Youth groups in Ekiti have also mobilised voter education campaigns. Several local organisations are running door-to-door outreach to remind eligible voters to confirm their polling units and collect their Permanent Voter Cards before June 20.

The Ekiti Peace Accord signing is a positive step, experts say. However, they note that similar accords have been signed before previous elections in Nigeria without preventing violence. The real test will come in the final days of the campaign and on election day itself.