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Voters in Ekiti State head to the polls tomorrow to elect a new governor, while senatorial, House of Representatives and state assembly bye-elections will also take place in six states across the country.
The off-cycle elections involve four senatorial districts in Rivers, Enugu, Ondo and Nasarawa states, a House of Representatives seat in Kano State and a state assembly constituency in Kebbi State, with 37 candidates contesting seven elective positions.
Ahead of the polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) completed the distribution of sensitive election materials and expressed confidence in its readiness to conduct credible elections.
In Ekiti State, INEC commenced the distribution of sensitive materials to all 16 local government areas from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office in Ado-Ekiti under heavy security.
Resident Electoral Commissioner, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the process was transparent and involved political parties, security agencies, observers and other stakeholders.
He urged residents to turn out peacefully and participate in the election.
Security agencies have also intensified preparations for the governorship poll.
The Commissioner of Police for the election, Abayomi Shogunle, disclosed that no fewer than 460 flashpoints had been identified across the state and that additional personnel had been deployed to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
Shogunle said security operatives had strengthened surveillance along the state\'s borders with Kogi and Kwara states and would enforce restrictions on vehicular movement during the election.
He warned that vote-buying, political violence, thuggery and other electoral offences would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa, identified vote-buying as the greatest threat to the credibility of the election and called on security agencies and anti-corruption bodies to take decisive action against the practice.
The group also expressed concern over security challenges in some local government areas, particularly locations affected by recent kidnapping incidents.
In Enugu State, authorities have imposed movement restrictions across the six local government areas that make up the Enugu North Senatorial District ahead of the bye-election.
The Commissioner of Police, Mamman Giwa, ordered the restriction of human and vehicular movement from midnight to 6 p.m., exempting only electoral officials and persons on essential duties.
Police spokesperson, Daniel Ndukwe, said additional security personnel had been deployed from various formations to ensure a peaceful exercise and warned that electoral offenders would face prosecution.
Although seven political parties are participating in the election, the contest is widely viewed as a battle between the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Nestor Ezeme, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Ikeje Asogwa.
In Rivers State, INEC has assured voters of adequate security for the Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Johnson Sinikiem, said security agencies had guaranteed extensive deployment of personnel across both upland and riverine communities within the district.
Speaking during the inspection and distribution of sensitive election materials in Port Harcourt, Sinikiem expressed confidence that the election would be peaceful and credible.
According to him, all election materials were intact and security agencies had assured the commission of their preparedness to respond to any challenge.
The election is expected to attract 858,573 registered voters across 1,629 polling units in seven local government areas.
Four candidates are contesting to replace the late Senator Barry Mpigi. They are Fabeke Douglas of the Action Alliance (AA), Osarosaka Ebenezer Erewari of the APC, Sam Kinanee Barikpoa of the Labour Party (LP) and Olaka Nwogu of the PDP.
In Ondo State, four candidates are seeking to represent Ondo South Senatorial District following the appointment of former senator, Jimoh Ibrahim, as Nigeria\'s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
INEC said 673,446 registered voters would participate in the election across 1,354 polling units.
The candidates are Francis Faduyile of the APC, Adeolu Akinwumi Harrison of the Allied Peoples\' Movement (APM), Adesanya Olaoluwa of the Action Peoples Party (APP) and Nejo Funso Clement of the Boot Party.
In Nasarawa North Senatorial District, six candidates are in the race to fill the vacancy created by the death of Senator Godiya Akwashiki.
The candidates include Halilu Danladi Envulanza of the APC, Labaran Maku of the Labour Party, John Paul Araneshri of the NNPP, Emmanuel David Ombugadu of the PDP, Duba Ishaya Dodo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Alaku Mohammed Steve Ahmed of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In Kebbi State, the bye-election for the Zuru State Constituency seat is a straight contest between the APC and the Labour Party.
Meanwhile, three candidates are contesting the House of Representatives bye-election for the Dawakin Kudu/Warawa Federal Constituency in Kano State.
They are Rabi\'u Shuaibu of the APC, Lawan Garba Haruna of the APM and Abubakar Yahaya Muhammad of the Labour Party.
Security agencies across the affected states have reiterated their commitment to ensuring peaceful and credible elections, warning political actors and their supporters against engaging in vote-buying, ballot-box snatching, violence and other electoral offences.
