Civil society organisation, Yiaga Africa has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for what it described as a significant improvement in election logistics during the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
The group’s Executive Director, Samson Itodo, said over 68 per cent of polling units opened by 7:30 a.m., compared to 27 per cent during the 2022 governorship election, while voting and accreditation had commenced in 99 per cent
However, the logistical success has been overshadowed by “troubling” levels of vote-buying and scattered outbreaks of violence.
Mr Itodo warned that the day’s high voter turnout could not yet be taken at face value. “We cannot say at this moment… whether this turnout that we see is either procured or is actually turnout based on the willful decision of voters,” he said, calling the widespread trading of cash for ballots a “missed opportunity” to clean up the electoral process.
Yiaga Africa’s observation hub also verified localised violence in known hotspots, specifically naming the Ikole, Oye, and Ilejemeje local government areas.
As the state moves into the critical result-collation phase, attention is turning to the performance of the eEC8A system—a new electronic results sheet transmitted directly via BVAS devices. Mr Itodo urged electoral officials to “uphold the principle of transparency” to ensure the peaceful start to the day is not derailed during the final count.
