Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
The Ekiti State Police Command has announced a restriction on vehicular movement across the state ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with residents advised to remain off the roads between 12 a.m. and 6 p.m. on election day.
The Governorship election is scheduled to take place in the 16 local government areas of the state on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
The command said the measure would apply to both intra-state and inter-state movements and forms part of security arrangements designed to ensure a peaceful and credible electoral process.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, the command clarified that candidates sitting for national examinations would be exempted from the restriction and allowed to travel to their examination centres.
According to the police, the restriction covers private and commercial vehicles, trucks, tricycles and motorcycles, while travellers intending to pass through Ekiti State were advised to use alternative routes during the period.
Abutu explained that the measure was intended to prevent the movement of political thugs and other criminal elements who might seek to disrupt the election.
He said accredited election officials, journalists, election observers, medical personnel, emergency responders and other essential service providers would be allowed movement, provided they carry valid identification and clearance tags. Medical emergencies will also be accommodated.
The command further directed construction companies to suspend road work activities during the election period and warned that vigilante groups, volunteers and other quasi-security outfits would not be permitted to provide security services at polling units or collation centres.
“Only officers and personnel of security agencies and agencies that are members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) are permitted to provide security in and around all designated election facilities,” the statement read.
The police also stated that VIPs accompanied by armed escorts or security aides would not be allowed access to polling units and collation centres.
Commissioner of Police in charge of the Ekiti governorship election, Dr Abayomi Shogunle, urged eligible voters to participate peacefully in the exercise and cooperate with security personnel deployed across the state.
He assured residents of the police’s commitment to protecting lives and property before, during and after the election, while encouraging members of the public to report suspicious activities through the nearest security agency or the police emergency line, 08062335577.
