Ekiti Election: Police Link Isan Unrest to Football Match, Not Polls

The Nigeria Police Force has refuted suggestions that a recent disturbance in Isan Ekiti, Ekiti State, was connected to the ongoing governorship election. According to police officials, the incident stemmed from a disagreement that erupted after a local football match.

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The violence experienced at Isan Police Station in Oye Local Government Area resulted from a football match played in the community. It has nothing to do with politics or elections.

Abayomi Shogunle, the Commissioner of Police for election security in Ekiti State, clarified during a live interview that the fracas had no political or electoral undertones. He stated, "The violence experienced at Isan Police Station in Oye Local Government Area resulted from a football match played in the community. It has nothing to do with politics or elections."

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That same community in Isan Ekiti, election is ongoing as we speak. Despite arguments that occurred between candidates of different parties, we can now see that voting is ongoing and that argument has not disrupted the election.

Despite the brief altercation, Shogunle assured that voting continued uninterrupted in Isan Ekiti. He further reported that accreditation and voting were proceeding peacefully across all local government areas in the state, with security personnel and officials from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) present. The police noted a high voter turnout, interpreting it as a sign of public confidence in the security arrangements for the election. Deputy Inspector-General Adegoke Fayoade also conducted inspections of perceived flashpoints in border communities, reporting no significant electoral violence since the election's commencement.

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I have spoken with security and INEC officials and there has been no report of electoral violence since the commencement of the election.