The Ekiti State Police Command has reiterated its commitment to clamp down on vote buying and other electoral malpractices ahead of the 2026 governorship election.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, gave the assurance on Friday in Ado-Ekiti at the end of a two-day media-led stakeholders’ dialogue on credible elections.
The dialogue was organised by the International Press Centre (IPC) in collaboration with the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), with support from the European Union.
Abutu said the command would adopt proactive measures to curb vote trading and ensure a free, fair and credible electoral process.
He acknowledged that criminal elements often attempt to undermine elections but stressed that the police had developed strategies to counter such threats.
“We will be tough on vote buying and trading. While some may try to beat our strategies, we will deploy our personnel effectively to prevent such acts,” he said.
He added that the police would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to maintain peace and order before, during and after the election.
Also speaking, the Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Mr Bunmi Omosehindemi, emphasised the importance of voter education and proper accreditation in ensuring credible elections.
Omosehindemi described transparency as critical to the electoral process and urged the media to promote responsible and issue-based reporting.
He assured journalists of unhindered access to information, noting that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was strengthening mechanisms to enhance transparency.
The REC said INEC was working with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to ensure that only accredited journalists would cover the election.
He explained that journalists would be registered at designated centres to screen out unqualified individuals posing as media practitioners.
Omosehindemi added that the commission had zero tolerance for harassment or intimidation of journalists and called on security agencies to respect press freedom.
In his remarks, the Chairman of NUJ in Ekiti State, Mr Kayode Babatuyi, said the union had taken steps to curb fake news among journalists.
Babatuyi commended the organisers of the dialogue and stressed the need for continuous training and capacity building for media professionals.
He urged INEC to organise more training on the provisions of the Electoral Act to enhance journalists’ understanding of the electoral process.
The NUJ chairman also said the union was working to address voter apathy by encouraging citizens to participate actively in the election.
Similarly, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in the state, Mrs Adewunmi Ademiju, said women journalists would intensify efforts to promote accurate information.
Ademiju said NAWOJ would embark on fact-checking initiatives to ensure dissemination of verified information ahead of the poll.
Earlier, the Executive Director of IPC, Mr Lanre Arogundade, called for the protection of journalists and prompt investigation of attacks on media personnel during elections.
He stressed that the safety of journalists was essential to credible election coverage and democratic accountability.
