Civil society organisations under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase Two (EU-SDGN II) programme have raised concerns over the state of preparedness for the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election, said significant operational and structural weaknesses could undermine the credibility of the electoral process.
Briefing the media on the Pre-election Assessment Report, in Abuja on Thursday, the Election Observation Hub described the Ekiti governorship election as a major test for Nigeria’s electoral system and democratic institutions, especially as it will be the first governorship election conducted under the new Electoral Act 2026.
The coalition noted that the election comes barely seven months before the 2027 General Election and would serve as a crucial stress test for the preparedness of the electoral body, security agencies and political actors.
It warned that shortcomings in Ekiti could create a negative precedent for subsequent elections, including the Osun off-cycle governorship election and the 2027 polls.
According to the report, the political environment in Ekiti currently appears calm and peaceful.
However, the coalition cautioned against interpreting the absence of violence as evidence of democratic health, noting that the election is widely perceived as lacking competitiveness due to the advantages of incumbency, elite political alignments and internal crises within opposition parties.
The report identified one of the most urgent concerns as the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), revealing that election readiness across the state’s 16 local government offices stood at only 34 per cent as of April 14, 2026.
Although activities such as Continuous Voter Registration, BVAS inventory checks, network mapping and stakeholder engagements have progressed, the coalition said these efforts remain insufficient due to delayed election funding and deteriorating infrastructure.
It noted that several INEC offices, operational vehicles and collation centres require urgent rehabilitation.
The report further disclosed that over 32,000 newly registered voters are currently being processed, while Permanent Voter Card collection and voter register displays are ongoing.
However, it stressed that with barely weeks to the election, a preparedness rate of one-third remains incompatible with the conduct of a credible poll.
The coalition also highlighted concerns over election security, classifying Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Moba and Ilejemeje local government areas as high-risk zones due to threats ranging from urban violence and kidnapping to vote buying, political thuggery, misinformation and potential over-militarisation.
While acknowledging the Nigeria Police Force’s planned deployment of nearly 10,000 officers, mobile police units, patrol vehicles and aerial support under Operation Order 08/2026, stakeholders expressed fears over possible politicisation, excessive use of force and perceived bias in security operations.
On media coverage, the report noted that while Ekiti possesses a vibrant media landscape, journalists continue to face challenges including intimidation, legal harassment and economic pressures that fuel self-censorship.
It also criticised the N5 million campaign signage levy imposed by the Ekiti State Signage and Advertisement Agency, arguing that it disproportionately affects opposition parties.
The report raised fresh concerns over political inclusion, observing that despite existing laws promoting gender representation and disability rights, none of the 13 political parties fielded a female governorship candidate and no candidate publicly identified as a person living with disability.
The coalition attributed the exclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities to high nomination fees, entrenched patronage systems and informal political barriers, describing the situation as unacceptable given the high level of civic participation among these groups in Ekiti.
The Election Observation Hub called on INEC to urgently secure and deploy election funding, conduct comprehensive testing of the BVAS and electronic result transmission systems, and intensify voter education efforts to curb vote trading and apathy.
Security agencies were urged to maintain professionalism and neutrality, while political parties were advised to embrace issue-based campaigns, reject violence and uphold the peace accord.
The coalition concluded that the credibility of the election would ultimately depend not on the absence of violence alone, but on transparency, inclusiveness and public confidence in the electoral outcome. It added that observers would continue monitoring developments ahead of the poll.
