INEC Schedules Ekiti Off-Cycle Governorship Election for June 20, 2026

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has officially set Saturday, June 20, 2026, as the date for the off-cycle governorship election in Ekiti State. The election will be held across all 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs), with polling scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m.

According to a statement from INEC, the election will be conducted in all 2,445 polling units within the state. The announcement was made in line with the provisions of Section 28 (1) and (2) of the Electoral Act 2022.

INEC emphasized that only registered voters with valid Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) will be eligible to vote, and they must do so at the polling unit where they are registered.

The Commission also confirmed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) will be used for voter accreditation, continuing its efforts to ensure transparency and credibility in the electoral process.

INEC urged all eligible voters in Ekiti State to take note of the date and adhere to the voting guidelines provided.

This election is part of Nigeria’s off-cycle polls, which occur outside the general election calendar due to the unique timelines of past administrations’ tenures. Recent off-cycle elections include those in Edo and Ondo states in 2024.

Edo State held its governorship election on September 21, 2024, where Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared the winner. Ondo State followed on November 16, 2024, with voters participating statewide under the BVAS system. The APC retained power in both states, further consolidating its influence in the region.

As Ekiti prepares for its own off-cycle poll, all eyes will be on how the process unfolds and what implications it might have for the political landscape in the Southwest.