Oyebanji urges patience amid Ekiti voting glitches, assuring residents that all eligible voters will be allowed to cast their ballots

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has appealed to voters across the state to remain calm and patient following technical glitches that disrupted accreditation and delayed voting in some polling units during Saturday’s governorship election.

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Oyebanji made the appeal shortly after casting his ballot at Polling Unit 003, Oyebanji’s Compound, Registration Area 06, in Ekiti West Local Government Area.

The governor acknowledged reports of challenges experienced by voters in some locations, where biometric accreditation devices reportedly failed to capture certain voters, leading to delays in the commencement of the electoral process.

Despite the setbacks, Oyebanji expressed confidence that electoral officials would resolve the issues and ensure that every eligible voter had the opportunity to participate in the election.

“I want to appeal to our people to be patient, because everyone will vote. I have received assurances from INEC that all those who came out will be allowed to vote,” the governor said.

The election, which is being closely monitored by political stakeholders and observers, experienced a mixed start across parts of the state as some polling units commenced voting smoothly while others encountered technical difficulties.

The reported glitches triggered concerns among voters who feared they might be unable to exercise their franchise due to delays in accreditation.

Addressing those concerns, Oyebanji said he had been briefed on the situation and was encouraged by assurances from electoral officials that corrective measures were already being implemented.

According to him, the electoral authorities remain committed to ensuring that no eligible voter is disenfranchised as a result of the technical challenges.

The governor noted that temporary disruptions are not uncommon during large-scale elections and expressed optimism that the issues would be addressed promptly to allow the process to continue without significant interruption.

His remarks came as voters continued to gather at polling centres across the state, awaiting accreditation and the opportunity to cast their ballots.

Election officials were observed working to resolve the challenges in affected locations while monitoring teams moved across polling units to assess the situation.

The governorship election is regarded as a significant political contest in Ekiti State, with residents voting to determine who will lead the state for the next term.

Security agencies have also maintained a visible presence around polling centres to ensure law and order throughout the exercise.

As voting continued, attention remained focused on voter turnout, the effectiveness of measures introduced to address the technical glitches and the overall credibility of the electoral process.

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The Independent National Electoral Commission is expected to continue monitoring developments across the state to ensure that voting proceeds smoothly and that all accredited voters are given the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.