On Saturday, a record number of Ekiti voters flocked to various polling stations in various towns, villages, and hamlets to exercise their civic rights during the ongoing governorship election.

There were also combined security personnel present on the ground to protect lives and property in various parts of the state. Their presence was noted both near and far from the polling stations.

At the Ekiti office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, there was a heavy presence of security agents to forestall any eventuality.

Many polling stations were manned by security agents as early as 7.20 AM.

Other than the police, there are other security agencies and outfits that provide security such as the Civil Defence Corps and the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency. Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps are also included.

Military men were stationed strategically at Ekiti's border towns to keep watch and conduct searches on the vehicle owners and occupants.

Residents and visitors alike strictly adhered to the restrictions on vehicular and human movement during the election, and most inter-township roads were empty.

Many voters were forced to travel long distances to get to their polling stations since there weren't any taxi or commercial motorbike operators.

All markets, shops, and restaurants were also under lock and key.

Ado-Ekiti and Ikere-Ekiti were some of the places that were visited. Efon-Alaaye was located in Efon Local Gov Area Ifaki-Ekiti. This is the hometown of Mr. Segun Oni who is the Social Democratic Party's Governorship candidate.

Other areas included Ise-Ekiti which was the home of Dayo Adeyeye, former Minister of State of Works, Emure-Ekiti Ido-Ekiti Omuo-Ekiti. It also contained Emure-Ekiti. This is the hometown of Senator Biodun Olumimi of PDP and Rep. Femi Bamisile from the APC.

Many voters were already waiting in line to be seen at the polling stations.

Students, artisans aged between 18-20 years and old, as well as a few expectant mothers are some of those who were spotted among enthusiastic voters.

It was noticed that most of the officials, including the ad-hoc staff, arrived in many places only minutes after 8.00 am. Some of them don't have chairs.

NAN reports that 16 candidates from different political parties are slugging it out in today’s election, with only a female candidate, Mrs. Kemi Elebute-Halle of ADP.

Others include candidates of ACCORD, AAC, ADC, APC, APGA, APM, APO, LO, NNPP, NRM, PDP, PRP, SDP, YPP, and ZLP.

According to statistics at the disposal of NAN, over 17,000 policemen were deployed for the election, with NSCDC deploying 9,747, while the army and others also deployed appreciable figures.

When contacted, Mrs. Morolake Odebunmi, the Public Relations Officer of INEC, told NAN that there was nothing much to do at the INEC office this morning.