In Ekiti, money, rice, and indomie are distributed before elections – YIAGA Africa

YIAGA Africa has reported that food items are being distributed in advance of the upcoming Ekiti state governorship election, which is scheduled for Saturday.

During an interview on Channels Television’s “The Morning Brief” on Thursday, Safiya Bichi, the Head of Knowledge Management and Learning for YIAGA Africa, made this claim.

Bichi said that the competitiveness of the Ekiti election would increase if a significant number of voters turned out on Saturday.

“Items such as rice, money, Indomie, and various food products are being distributed, along with promises made ahead of the election,” she stated.

Bichi also addressed the widespread belief that “votes do not count.”

“There is a common narrative in Nigeria, not limited to Ekiti, suggesting that your vote is inconsequential, and we are urging young people to recognize that their votes do matter,” she said.

“If votes were insignificant, there would be no one attempting to purchase them, and these are some of the messages we are using to reassure and motivate citizens to participate in our electoral process,” she added.

Her comments come as Ekiti prepares for its governorship election, set for June 20, 2026.

Meanwhile, Joash Amupitan, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced the commission’s readiness for the election.

Amupitan assured voters, political parties, and other stakeholders that all necessary preparations have been completed to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process.

INEC has also reported an increase in the number of registered voters in Ekiti State, rising from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.