Ekiti Election 2026: Business Thrives as Polling Units Buzz

Small business owners around polling units in Ekiti West Local Government Area are making good sales as the Ekiti governorship election takes place.

Meanwhile, commercial motorcyclists and tricycle operators in Ado-Ekiti are still working despite the movement restriction set by the police.

The election has boosted businesses. Traders are seeing more customers from voters, election officials, and observers.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that many residents took advantage of the high voter turnout to sell items around polling centres and major roads in Ekiti West.

Vendors selling sachet water, bottled water, soft drinks, biscuits, and snacks moved around polling units and homes, serving customers waiting to vote.

Some shops and food vendors also opened to serve voters and visitors who came to the area, even with the vehicle movement restrictions in place.

At Aramoko-Ekiti, NAN noticed many residents buying food and drinks while waiting for accreditation and voting, which boosted business in the area.

Similarly, Ido-Ile Ekiti and Ipole-Iloro-Ekiti saw many market owners opening their shops.

In Erijiyan-Ekiti and Ikogosi-Ekiti, which is the home of the current governor, shops were open for voters to buy food and drinks.

One trader, Aina Jegede, who sold cold drinks and snacks near a polling unit, said the election helped her sales.

"I have made good sales today because many people came into the community for the election. Unlike normal days, there are more people moving around and buying drinks and snacks," she said.

Mrs Jegede hopes the high patronage will continue as voting goes on throughout the day.

Other traders see the election period as a chance to earn extra money from the crowd coming into their communities.

By 8 a.m., when accreditation and voting were set to start, traders at major markets in Ado-Ekiti were busy with customers.

NAN reports that the police commissioner overseeing the election, Abayomi Shogunle, ordered a restriction on vehicle movement from midnight on Friday to 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Some of the markets visited in the state capital included Eleyeo markets, Oja Oba Erekesan, and Oja Bisi, where voting had already started.

A commercial motorcyclist, Oluwadare Adeleye, questioned why he should stay at home.

Mr Adeleye also mentioned that the security officers at the election were friendly, unlike during past elections.

Moses Ajibade, a tricyclist, said he needed to work to provide for his family and meet his weekly contribution.

"I came out around 5:30 a.m., thinking I would stop by 8 a.m., but I had to keep working when I saw there was no stoppage from the security men," he said.

Funmillayo Abolade, who sells peppers and vegetables, said her goods are perishable and would go bad if she did not sell them in time.

"I can’t leave my market to waste; that’s why I came out to sell, and I’m not alone; you can see my other colleagues also selling their wares," she said.

When reminded about the police order, Mrs Abolade said she knew about it but felt she needed to stay at the market and would vote later.

In other news, election materials arrived early, there was a large turnout of voters, and many security officers were present in most wards and polling units visited in Ado Local Government Area.

In Ward 10, Unit 7 and Ward 8, Unit 9, accreditation and voting started right at 8:30 a.m. as election officials arrived at the units as early as 7 a.m.

At Ward 8, Unit 9, a former senator from Ekiti Central, Babafemi Ojudu, praised the large voter turnout but said the process was slow.

He urged INEC to take action quickly to fix the situation.

"It took them 30 minutes for the BVAS to capture my face, and you can multiply that if we have 500 voters.

This means some people have to be here till tomorrow. I am calling on INEC to do something urgently in this regard," he said.