₦airaland Forum

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is fully prepared to conduct the governorship and bye-elections scheduled to hold on Saturday.

The elections include the Ekiti State Governorship Election as well as bye-elections in Dawaki Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State.

Other bye-elections will hold in Ondo South Senatorial District in Ondo State, Rivers South East Senatorial District in Rivers State, Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State, and Enugu North Senatorial District in Enugu State.

INEC’s Deputy Director, Publicity and Voter Education, Wilfred Ifogah, said the Commission had put in place necessary measures to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP on Thursday in Abuja, Ifogah said the Commission had trained and retrained its staff and ad hoc personnel on handling emergencies, managing sensitive election materials, and adhering strictly to electoral guidelines to prevent electoral malpractice.

“The Commission has done its best to ensure elections are conducted in an atmosphere that guarantees free and fair participation, where every eligible voter will be allowed to cast his or her vote without any hindrance.

Can the oppositions show up today?

List of where the election are taking place today;
Ekiti State- Governorship
Enugu State- Enugu North (Senate)
Nasarrawa State- Nas. North (Senate)
Ondo State- Ondo South ( Senate)
Rivers State- Rivers South East ( Senate)
Kano- Dawakin Kudu Fed Rep
Kebbi- Zuru Constituency.

What do we expect from the NDC, PDP and ADC today?

APC will win all. Nigerians will again show their love for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC today.

Aminda has shown up What do we expect from you guys today?

Off-cycle elections almost always go the incumbent due to their ability to concentrate resources and literally throw bread at the citizens that they have impoverished. This was Ekiti yesterday. The opposition is not expecting much from the by-elections but will use it to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.

HAPPENING in Ekiti State Nigeria. The Governor is throwing Bread to the citizen as though they're animal
😭😭😭💔💔💔

The damages that APC has done to Nigeria will take decades of hard work to fix. pic.twitter.com/F4STEutk8W

— Queen Bee 👑 🐝 (@RealQueenBee__) June 19, 2026

Hi[quote author=AMINDA post=139775193]Off-cycle elections almost always go the incumbent due to their inability to concentrate resources and throw bread at the citizens that they have impoverished. This was Ekiti yesterday. The opposition is not expecting much from the by-elections but will use it to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.

HAPPENING in Ekiti State Nigeria. The Governor is throwing Bread to the citizen as though they're animal
😭😭😭💔💔💔

The damages that APC has done to Nigeria will take decades of hard work to fix. pic.twitter.com/F4STEutk8W

— Queen Bee 👑 🐝 (@RealQueenBee__) June 19, 2026

. Yeye boy!

Bobloco
Ofunaofu
Tenses
Kanwulia
Iwaeda

APC will carry the day Insha Allah.

madridguy:
APC will carry the day Insha Allah.

After carrying the day, what next?

Maladministration
Incompetence
Insecurity
Hunger
Bad roads etc....

NgeneUkwenu:
Bobloco
Ofunaofu
Tenses
Kanwulia
Iwaeda

tinubu and apc will never encourage free and fair election. So oppositions are wasting precious time in by-elections.

All efforts should be channel into the general elections. Off cycle elections are easily rigged.

NgeneUkwenu:
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it is fully prepared to conduct the governorship and bye-elections scheduled to hold on Saturday.


The elections include the Ekiti State Governorship Election as well as bye-elections in Dawaki Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State, and Zuru State Constituency in Kebbi State.

Other bye-elections will hold in Ondo South Senatorial District in Ondo State, Rivers South East Senatorial District in Rivers State, Nasarawa North Senatorial District in Nasarawa State, and Enugu North Senatorial District in Enugu State.

INEC’s Deputy Director, Publicity and Voter Education, Wilfred Ifogah, said the Commission had put in place necessary measures to ensure free, fair and credible elections.

Speaking with LEADERSHIP on Thursday in Abuja, Ifogah said the Commission had trained and retrained its staff and ad hoc personnel on handling emergencies, managing sensitive election materials, and adhering strictly to electoral guidelines to prevent electoral malpractice.

“The Commission has done its best to ensure elections are conducted in an atmosphere that guarantees free and fair participation, where every eligible voter will be allowed to cast his or her vote without any hindrance.


RELATED NEWS
Delta SDP Chairman Commends INEC Over Restoration of Prof. Gombe
INEC Has Finally Recognised Our Leadership – SDP
INEC Rolls Out Ballot Materials For Nasarawa Senatorial By-election
“Security agencies will be deployed to man polling units and Registration Area Centres (RACs), where electoral officials and materials will be kept ahead of deployment to their assigned polling units.

“We have also directed electoral officials to move to their assigned polling units by 7:30am ahead of the commencement of voting at 8:30am,” he said.

On the high PVC collection in Ekiti, the INEC spokesman described the turnout as impressive, noting that the Commission intensified voter sensitisation ahead of the exercise.

He added that INEC would build on the achievement in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

Ifogah also called on political parties to caution their members against acts capable of causing violence or disrupting the voting process at polling units.

Meanwhile, INEC disclosed that a total of 1,028,929 Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) had been collected across Ekiti State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, representing 97.1 per cent of registered voters and a slight increase from the figures recorded in 2023.

The Commission made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Mohammed Kudu Haruna.

According to the Commission, the number of registered voters in Ekiti increased from 987,647 recorded in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026 following the suspension of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise on May 15 and the subsequent clean-up of the voters’ register.

INEC noted that the 2026 collection figure surpassed the 958,052 PVCs collected in 2023, which represented a 97.0 per cent collection rate.

The Commission recalled that the PVC collection exercise, originally scheduled to end on June 11, was extended to June 14 after consultations with stakeholders during a meeting held in Ado-Ekiti.

On replacement of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards, the Commission said it received 14,406 applications within the approved timeline and printed all replacement PVCs, adding that most had already been collected.

The electoral body, however, explained that plans to introduce downloadable copies of lost, damaged or defaced voter cards could not be implemented for the Ekiti election due to incomplete technology infrastructure.

It added that the option is expected to become available in future elections, particularly for the Osun Governorship Election in August 2026 and the 2027 General Election.

INEC commended traditional rulers, community leaders, civil society organisations, political parties and members of the media for supporting voter mobilisation and encouraging citizens to collect their PVCs.

The Commission further stated that all PVCs for eligible applicants were printed and made available, including for those who requested transfers or replacement of damaged or lost cards.

INEC urged all registered voters who had collected their PVCs to participate peacefully in the election and reassured residents of Ekiti State of its commitment to conducting a free, fair and credible.

https://leadership.ng/inec-set-for-saturdays-ekiti-governorship-bye-elections-in-six-states/

Today’s Elections Are the First Real Referendum on 2027

For months, Nigerians have been bombarded with grand claims. We have been told that “Nigerians have rejected APC,” that “the masses are angry,” and that “2027 is already settled.”

Well, today, rhetoric meets reality.

The Ekiti governorship election and the bye-elections across Kano, Kebbi, Ondo, Rivers, Nasarawa and Enugu represent the first real political test ahead of the 2027 general election.

Unlike social media polls, YouTube channels and comment sections where everyone conveniently speaks on behalf of “Nigerians,” elections provide something far more valuable: actual votes.

Those who routinely and fraudulently ascribe their personal feelings to 200 million Nigerians now have an opportunity to test their assumptions.

Those who insist that APC has been totally rejected can demonstrate it at the ballot box.

Likewise, the opposition, which has spent the last three years feeding on outrage and declaring victory in advance, now has a chance to convert online enthusiasm into electoral reality.

Democracy does not operate on hashtags.

It operates on votes.

The ballot box remains the only credible opinion poll.

By the time the results start coming in, all parties — APC included — will have fresh data on where they stand and what work remains to be done.

This is why today's elections matter.

Not because they will determine 2027.

But because they will expose who truly has popular support and who has merely mistaken noise for numbers.

As always, votes speak louder than vibes.

NgeneUkwenu:
List of where the election are taking place today;
Ekiti State- Governorship
Enugu State- Enugu North (Senate)
Nasarrawa State- Nas. North (Senate)
Ondo State- Ondo South ( Senate)
Rivers State- Rivers South East ( Senate)
Kano- Dawakin Kudu Fed Rep
Kebbi- Zuru Constituency.

What do we expect from the NDC, PDP and ADC today?

Did you just say What do we expect from the [b]NDC, PDP and ADC today?

i tell you for free!

Like students who have neglected their books, they appear more prepared to explain failure than to prevent it.

Already, one can predict the script.

If they win, democracy worked.

If they lose, it was rigging.

If they perform poorly, it will be because of INEC, judiciary, BVAS, Tinubu, Wike, CIA, Mossad and perhaps even the weather.

But elections have a cruel habit of exposing illusion.

Politics is not content creation.

It is organisation.

And no amount of YouTube,nairaland, social media prophecy can substitute for grassroots preparation.

By the time the votes are counted, we shall know who truly has support and who merely mistook applause from social media echo chambers for the voice of the people.

As always, examinations reveal preparation.

And results expose excuses.

[quote author=AMINDA post=139775193]Off-cycle elections almost always go the incumbent due to their ability to concentrate resources and literally throw bread at the citizens that they have impoverished. This was Ekiti yesterday. The opposition is not expecting much from the by-elections but will use it to gauge their strengths and weaknesses.

HAPPENING in Ekiti State Nigeria. The Governor is throwing Bread to the citizen as though they're animal
😭😭😭💔💔💔

The damages that APC has done to Nigeria will take decades of hard work to fix. pic.twitter.com/F4STEutk8W

— Queen Bee 👑 🐝 (@RealQueenBee__) June 19, 2026

is exactly the excuse-making I predicted.

Before the election, they told us Nigerians had rejected APC. After the election, suddenly voters were “impoverished people collecting bread.”

So which is it?

If the people can be persuaded with bread, what did the opposition offer them besides anger, slogans and social media noise?

Did they campaign seriously?

Did they organise?

Did they mobilise voters?

Did they present a superior local alternative?

You cannot neglect preparation, lose an election, then insult the electorate as hungry people who were bought.

That is arrogance, not analysis.

And please, are all Ekiti voters impoverished? Or does that label only apply when they vote against your expectation?

If this election was a referendum, then the result is part of that referendum.

The incumbent campaigned, organised and delivered.

The opposition prepared excuses.

As usual, when they win, it is democracy. When they lose, it is bread.

CharlesCNG:
Today’s Elections Are the First Real Referendum on 2027

For months, Nigerians have been bombarded with grand claims. We have been told that “Nigerians have rejected APC,” that “the masses are angry,” and that “2027 is already settled.”

Well, today, rhetoric meets reality.

The Ekiti governorship election and the bye-elections across Kano, Kebbi, Ondo, Rivers, Nasarawa and Enugu represent the first real political test ahead of the 2027 general election.

Unlike social media polls, YouTube channels and comment sections where everyone conveniently speaks on behalf of “Nigerians,” elections provide something far more valuable: actual votes.

Those who routinely and fraudulently ascribe their personal feelings to 200 million Nigerians now have an opportunity to test their assumptions.

Those who insist that APC has been totally rejected can demonstrate it at the ballot box.

Likewise, the opposition, which has spent the last three years feeding on outrage and declaring victory in advance, now has a chance to convert online enthusiasm into electoral reality.

Democracy does not operate on hashtags.

It operates on votes.

The ballot box remains the only credible opinion poll.

By the time the results start coming in, all parties — APC included — will have fresh data on where they stand and what work remains to be done.

This is why today's elections matter.

Not because they will determine 2027.

But because they will expose who truly has popular support and who has merely mistaken noise for numbers.

As always, votes speak louder than vibes.

Obidients will only vote when Obi is on the ballot

Cyberterror:
APC will win all. Nigerians will again show their love for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and APC today.

love indeed....just say rig as usual....that's why u have Wi....no wonder s boldness in u guys....cos tell me which sensible Nigerian want APC

The Governor in Ekiti State is THROWING BREAD to citizens of SW extraction. Is this the Change you voted for?

Una no dey tire for suffer head?

NgeneUkwenu:
Bobloco
Ofunaofu
Tenses
Kanwulia
Iwaeda

Help your generations

Maybe you are structured to only eat during election times.

You should wait for the next four years and look for a LOAF of BREAD as democracy dividend for you.


Nigerians have rejected APC and its pathetic that uou are paid to launder a very shambolic image.

Shame

CharlesCNG:
This is exactly the excuse-making I predicted.

Before the election, they told us Nigerians had rejected APC. After the election, suddenly voters were “impoverished people collecting bread.”

So which is it?

If the people can be persuaded with bread, what did the opposition offer them besides anger, slogans and social media noise?

Did they campaign seriously?

Did they organise?

Did they mobilise voters?

Did they present a superior local alternative?

You cannot neglect preparation, lose an election, then insult the electorate as hungry people who were bought.

That is arrogance, not analysis.

And please, are all Ekiti voters impoverished? Or does that label only apply when they vote against your expectation?

If this election was a referendum, then the result is part of that referendum.

The incumbent campaigned, organised and delivered.

The opposition prepared excuses.

As usual, when they win, it is democracy. When they lose, it is bread.

Unserious opposition are busy looking for excuse to claim the election was rig

NgeneUkwenu:
List of where the election are taking place today;
Ekiti State- Governorship
Enugu State- Enugu North (Senate)
Nasarrawa State- Nas. North (Senate)
Ondo State- Ondo South ( Senate)
Rivers State- Rivers South East ( Senate)
Kano- Dawakin Kudu Fed Rep
Kebbi- Zuru Constituency.

What do we expect from the NDC, PDP and ADC today?

I expect NDC and ADC to win all, if not they should forget about 2027 and strategies for 2031.

CharlesCNG:
This is exactly the excuse-making I predicted.

Before the election, they told us Nigerians had rejected APC. After the election, suddenly voters were “impoverished people collecting bread.”

So which is it?

If the people can be persuaded with bread, what did the opposition offer them besides anger, slogans and social media noise?

Did they campaign seriously?

Did they organise?

Did they mobilise voters?

Did they present a superior local alternative?

You cannot neglect preparation, lose an election, then insult the electorate as hungry people who were bought.

That is arrogance, not analysis.

And please, are all Ekiti voters impoverished? Or does that label only apply when they vote against your expectation?

If this election was a referendum, then the result is part of that referendum.

The incumbent campaigned, organised and delivered.

The opposition prepared excuses.

As usual, when they win, it is democracy. When they lose, it is bread.

I hope you and yours were able to collect a loaf yesterday? Is this the "organisation" that you wanted the opposition to do? The jokes write themselves.

Bro! We’re really cooked with this coming election o… look at what’s happening in Ekiti, just wait for the clips 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/nVPcfzX0ip

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 20, 2026

HIGHESTPOPORI:
Obidients will only vote when Obi is on the ballot

And their votes will be wasted as usual. Peter Obi will only rule Biafra.

AMINDA:
I hope you and yours were able to collect a loaf yesterday? Is this the "organisation" that you wanted the opposition to do? The jokes write themselves.

Bro! We’re really cooked with this coming election o… look at what’s happening in Ekiti, just wait for the clips 😭💔 pic.twitter.com/nVPcfzX0ip

— Oyindamola🙄 (@dammiedammie35) June 20, 2026

My brother, anti-incumbency is not a manifesto. 😁

Whenever the opposition loses, suddenly the voters become hungry people collecting bread.

Fine.

What exactly is the opposition offering besides anger, hashtags and conspiracy theories?

If bread is all it takes, why didn't your own superior ideas and candidates outperform a loaf?

The joke, indeed, writes itself.

And for future reference, "they shared bread" is not a campaign strategy. It is an excuse strategy.

Of all the people you could use to buttress your point, Isaac Fayose?

My brother, that is like a lawyer citing a beer parlour argument as Supreme Court authority.

You are not strengthening your case; you are merely advertising your desperation.

Students who prepare for exams discuss answers.

Students who fail discuss invigilators.

Shikena. 😂

yarimo:
Unserious opposition are busy looking for excuse to claim the election was rig

Unfortunately, that excuse will not hold unless there is proof.

Today, a number of anti-rigging and election transparency technologies are being deployed, and I will be highlighting some of them on this thread as the election progresses.

Channels Television will be deploying its own version of election-tracking technology. An Abuja-based company, Softsmart, will also be showcasing its platform, Smart ElectionGuard Pro.

Smart ElectionGuard Pro is a software platform designed to help people see election results more clearly, more quickly, and with evidence attached.

In many elections, results come from thousands of polling units. The challenge is that these results are often scattered, hard to track, difficult to verify, and easy to misunderstand.

Smart ElectionGuard Pro helps solve that by taking result sheets such as Form EC8A, reading them, organizing them, and turning them into a live, structured scoreboard that users can follow from:

Polling Unit → Ward → LGA → State

So instead of confusion, delay, and guesswork, users get a system that helps them follow the result trail in an organized, transparent, and evidence-based way.

esnbrutality:
Help your generations

Maybe you are structured to only eat during election times.

You should wait for the next four years and look for a LOAF of BREAD as democracy dividend for you.


Nigerians have rejected APC and its pathetic that uou are paid to launder a very shambolic image.

Shame

Insults are not evidence.

You said Nigerians have rejected APC. Good. Today is the test. Let the ballot speak, not your bitterness.

As for the bread sermon, it sounds like you came prepared with hunger and anger, but not with facts.
When the votes are counted, we’ll know whether it was APC Nigerians rejected or just your self-confidence that got ahead of the results.

Tenses:
After carrying the day, what next?

Maladministration
Incompetence
Insecurity
Hunger
Bad roads etc....

Election never start, you don concede defeat. No be so o, Chubuzie.

Tenses:
After carrying the day, what next?

Maladministration
Incompetence
Insecurity
Hunger
Bad roads etc....

NDC and ADC of dickson,OBI,David Mark,Atiku,Malami,dino melaye and co Will do what when they carry the day?

esnbrutality:
Help your generations

Maybe you are structured to only eat during election times.

You should wait for the next four years and look for a LOAF of BREAD as democracy dividend for you.


Nigerians have rejected APC and its pathetic that uou are paid to launder a very shambolic image.

Shame

Okudili, Don't use food to mock anyone.

If these people saw bread to eat, they won't have been like this.

AMINDA:
I hope you and yours were able to collect a loaf yesterday? Is this the "organisation" that you wanted the opposition to do? The jokes write themselves.

The technical adviser to the losing side is here.

CharlesCNG:
Insults are not evidence.

You said Nigerians have rejected APC. Good. Today is the test. Let the ballot speak, not your bitterness.

As for the bread sermon, it sounds like you came prepared with hunger and anger, but not with facts.
When the votes are counted, we’ll know whether it was APC Nigerians rejected or just your self-confidence that got ahead of the results.

Except that the ballot is not being allowed to speak. The system has been compromised to enable blatant usurpation of the will of the people. Distribute uncollected voters card to random people and then disable BVAS.