Civil society groups spot gaps before Ekiti gubernatorial election

Ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026, civil society organisations participating in the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase Two (EU‑SDGN II) programme have voiced concerns about the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) readiness for the highly anticipated poll.

During a media briefing in Ado‑Ekiti, the state capital, the groups warned that critical operational and security gaps could undermine the credibility of the election if not addressed urgently.

According to the pre‑election assessment report presented by the Election Observation Hub, INEC’s preparedness across the 16 local‑government offices in Ekiti was 34 percent as of April 14, 2026.

The organisations cited delayed election funding, poor infrastructure, inadequate operational vehicles and challenges at collation centres as major concerns.

They also highlighted vote buying, political thuggery, disinformation and the possible militarisation of election security as key threats to the poll. Ado‑Ekiti, Ikole, Moba and Ilejemeje local‑government areas were classified as high‑risk, while Efon, Ikere and Oye were listed as medium‑risk zones.

The groups further raised concerns over the exclusion of women and persons with disabilities from the governorship race, noting that none of the 13 political parties fielded a female candidate.

They urged INEC to improve election preparedness, strengthen the BVAS and IReV systems, and intensify voter education ahead of the election.

The report was jointly signed by CEMESO, ElectHER, IPC, NWTF, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa.