Ekiti Governorship Election Faces Credibility Test as Civil Society Raises Alarm

By Ifeyinwa Ike

Civil Society Organisations have warned that the 20 June 2026 Ekiti State governorship election faces serious credibility and inclusion challenges unless urgent action is taken by election managers, security agencies and political parties.

They gave the warning in Abuja on Thursday, during the presentation of the Pre-Election Assessment Report on the 2026 Ekiti State Off-Cycle Governorship Election.

The groups said the pre-election environment in Ekiti is generally calm, but stressed that the quiet atmosphere should not be mistaken for democratic strength.

They said the race is widely viewed as uncompetitive, citing the advantage of incumbency, elite consensus around the sitting governor, uneven resources among parties and internal divisions in the opposition.

The report also raised concern over the preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission, saying key election arrangements remain incomplete. It noted that as of 14 April, preparedness across the state’s 16 local government offices stood at 34%.

It said funding delays, poor infrastructure in INEC offices and collation centres, and the need to test election technology remain major issues as polling day approaches.

The civil society groups warned that the Ekiti poll, the first off-cycle governorship election under the new Electoral Act 2026, will be a major test for the law, the electoral commission and security agencies ahead of the 2027 general election.

They also identified security risks in some local government areas, including political thuggery, vote buying, disinformation and possible violence.

The report further raised concerns about media freedom, the N5 million signage levy and the exclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities. It noted that none of the 13 political parties fielded a female governorship candidate.

The groups urged INEC to release election funds on time, strengthen voter education and test its election technology. They also called on security agencies to remain neutral, on political parties to sign and respect the peace accord, and on the media to provide fair and accurate coverage.

According to the report, the credibility of the election will depend not only on the absence of violence, but also on transparency, inclusion and public acceptance of the result.