Ekiti & the Operation Wetie / Wild Wild West (1965–1966)#
Ekiti Division — part of Western Region — is engulfed in the post-October 1965 election violence ("Wetie" — Yoruba for "wet him/her", referring to the petrol-burning of political opponents). NCNC/UPGA supporters clash with NNDP loyalists across Ado, Ikere and Ijero; multiple deaths, market arson, and the collapse of order that triggers the 15 January 1966 coup. Lt. Col. Adekunle Fajuyi (Ado-Ekiti, then Military Governor of Western Region) is murdered alongside Aguiyi-Ironsi at Ibadan on 29 July 1966 — Ekiti's most prominent military martyr; the Fajuyi Memorial Park at Ado-Ekiti dates from this. See also Fajuyi.
The 1983 federal election riots (Ondo State — including Ekiti)#
The disputed 1983 Ondo gubernatorial election (Akin Omoboriowo v. Adekunle Ajasin) ignites the "Ondo Riots" — buildings, vehicles and persons burned across Akure, Owo, Ondo town, Ado-Ekiti, Ikere and Ifaki. ~100 deaths in the wider state; Ekiti towns lose FEDECO offices, NPN secretariats and several party agents. The riots are a direct trigger for the 31 December 1983 Buhari coup.