As voting commenced in the Ekiti State governorship election on Saturday, Isaac Fayose, younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, alleged that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was distributing uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Fayose made the allegation in a video posted on his X account, claiming that the electoral process had been compromised through the illegal use of voter cards that were not collected by their rightful owners.
The allegation has added a fresh layer of controversy to the governorship election, which is expected to determine who will lead the state for the next four years.
The major contenders in the election are the incumbent governor, Biodun Oyebanji of the APC, who is seeking another term in office, and Oluwole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
In the video circulating on social media, Isaac Fayose accused electoral officials of collaborating with members of the ruling party to manipulate the outcome of the election.
According to him, unclaimed PVCs were allegedly being handed over to APC members for use during the voting exercise.
“No opposition party can win election in Nigeria. Look at what INEC is doing in Ekiti. INEC is handing APC the voters cards that weren’t picked up,” Fayose said.
He further alleged that individuals who were not indigenes of Ekiti State were being recruited and paid to use the cards to vote.
“APC are now paying non-indigenes N20,000 to use those voters cards to vote for APC,” he claimed.
However, as of the time of filing this report, neither INEC nor the APC had responded to the allegations.
There was also no independent evidence immediately available to support Fayose’s claims.
The electoral commission has repeatedly maintained that Nigeria’s voting process contains safeguards designed to prevent the misuse of PVCs.
Under the current system, possession of a PVC alone does not automatically qualify a person to vote. Voters are required to undergo accreditation using the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which verifies their identity through fingerprint and facial recognition before they can cast their ballots.
INEC has consistently described the BVAS technology as one of the major reforms introduced to improve transparency and reduce electoral fraud.
The commission has also warned political actors against spreading unverified claims capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
The Ekiti governorship election is being closely watched by political observers and stakeholders across the country.
The state has long been regarded as politically significant in the South-West region, with elections in Ekiti often attracting national attention due to the intense rivalry between the major political parties.
Governor Oyebanji, who won the previous governorship election under the APC platform, is seeking to retain his position amid promises to consolidate on his administration’s achievements in infrastructure development, education and social welfare.
On the other hand, PDP candidate Oluwole Oluyede has campaigned on the need for change, pledging to improve governance and address the concerns of residents if elected.
As voting progressed across the state, reports from several polling units indicated that electoral officials arrived early in some areas, while accreditation and voting commenced peacefully in many locations.
Security agencies were also deployed to ensure law and order during the exercise, with authorities urging voters to conduct themselves peacefully and avoid acts capable of disrupting the election.
They have also encouraged political parties and their supporters to document alleged irregularities and present credible evidence where necessary.
The allegations by Isaac Fayose highlight the deep mistrust that often surrounds elections in Nigeria, where accusations of vote-buying, intimidation and manipulation frequently emerge during major contests.
Over the years, electoral reforms, including the introduction of BVAS and electronic transmission of results, have been introduced to strengthen the credibility of the process and reassure voters that their votes count.
Whether Fayose’s claims will be substantiated remains to be seen.
For now, attention remains focused on the conduct of the election and the eventual declaration of results by INEC.
With the people of Ekiti exercising their democratic rights, stakeholders have continued to call for restraint, fairness and adherence to the rule of law.