A coalition of civil society organisations under the Election Observation Hub has expressed concern over the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State. The group warned that the state office of the commission has yet to receive election funding just weeks before the poll.
Funding Delays Threaten Credibility
During a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, held under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase Two (EU-SDGN II) programme, the coalition urged INEC to ensure the immediate release and proper use of election funds. This would allow completion of pending pre-election activities, including the rehabilitation of state and local government offices, Registration Area Centres (RACs), and collation centres.
Technology and Security Preparedness
The group called on the electoral body to configure and conduct stress tests on the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). This is to ensure smooth voter accreditation, transparent collation processes, and credible electronic transmission of results in line with the Electoral Act 2026. The civil society groups also urged INEC to activate the INEC Security and Alert Notification System (ISANS) to enable rapid response during the election. Given the rainy season, they recommended the provision of raincoats and protective coverings for election personnel and sensitive materials.
Voter Education and Inclusivity
The coalition stressed the need for intensified voter and civic education campaigns to tackle voter apathy and discourage vote-buying ahead of the poll. They also advocated priority voting and improved accessibility for vulnerable persons, including persons with disabilities. This includes wider deployment of assistive devices and better collection of gender and disability-disaggregated data during the election process.
Civil Society Groups Involved
The hub comprises civil society groups including ElectHER, International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre, and Yiaga Africa. Speaking on behalf of the coalition, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said timely funding and adequate preparation are critical to the credibility of the Ekiti governorship election. He warned that delays in the release of funds could undermine key logistics and operational arrangements needed for a smooth electoral process, stressing that INEC must act swiftly to avoid avoidable setbacks.
Technology and Inclusion Central
Arogundade emphasised the importance of deploying technology effectively during the election, noting that proper testing of the BVAS and IReV systems would help strengthen public confidence in the integrity and transparency of the poll. According to him, security preparedness, voter education, and inclusion of vulnerable groups must remain central to INEC's planning to guarantee a peaceful, credible, and widely accepted election outcome. He further urged political parties, security agencies, and other stakeholders to play their roles responsibly and in accordance with the Electoral Act, adding that credible elections are essential to deepening Nigeria's democratic process.
Warning Signs
“The 20 June 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election is a critical milestone in Nigeria’s democratic journey and a forerunner to the 2027 General Election. The election faces structural vulnerabilities serious enough to challenge its credibility if left unaddressed. A 34% INEC preparedness rate, delayed election funding, an effectively uncontested political space, zero female candidates across 13 parties, and a media environment partially suppressed by a punitive levy are not the markers of a conducive electoral environment. They are warning signs and this report names them as such. The credibility of the election will be determined not by the absence of violence alone, but by the transparency, inclusiveness and public acceptance of the outcome. The Election Observation Hub will deploy long-term and short-term observers across the State and will continue to monitor the process and engage stakeholders towards the conduct of a peaceful, free, fair, credible and inclusive election,” he said.
