Ekiti 2026: EU Observers Hail Peaceful Poll, 96% BVAS Performance

Ekiti 2026: EU Observers Hail Peaceful Poll, 96% BVAS Performance

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub has described the governorship election in Ekiti State as largely peaceful, orderly, and inclusive, with early deployment of electoral officials and impressive functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) . The EU-backed observers, who monitored the election through 598 personnel deployed across the state’s 16 local government areas, noted that while the poll was generally peaceful, incidents of voter inducement, intimidation, and isolated violence remained major concerns capable of eroding public confidence in the electoral process. The observation hub, which comprises organisations including Yiaga Africa, the International Press Centre, the Centre for Media and Society, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre, and the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, was established to provide real-time monitoring and strengthen electoral transparency.

Presenting a joint situational statement in Ado-Ekiti on Saturday, the observation hub said reports from its observers indicated that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) achieved significant success in the early deployment of personnel and election materials. According to the group, officials were present in about 75 per cent of sampled polling units by 7:30 a.m. , while accreditation and voting commenced by 8:30 a.m. in 69 per cent of polling units observed. The observers also reported that the BVAS performed optimally across the state, recording a functionality rate of 96 per cent in the polling units monitored. The statement stated that election materials, both sensitive and non-sensitive, were generally complete and adequate in the polling units observed, while voting processes commenced on schedule in most locations. The high performance of the BVAS was particularly significant given that the election marked one of the first major tests of Nigeria’s new electoral framework under the Electoral Act 2026. Despite the positive assessment, the mission identified discrepancies in election materials, noting inconsistencies between the number of political parties listed on ballot papers, result sheets, and INEC’s final list of candidates. The group observed that while INEC’s final list contained 14 candidates, ballot papers featured 19 political parties, while result sheets provided spaces for 15 parties, warning that such mismatches could create confusion during voting and collation.

READ ALSO:

Despite the high functionality rate reported by observers, reports from the field indicated that some polling units experienced significant technical difficulties with the BVAS, causing delays in voter accreditation and sparking frustration among voters and candidates. Senator Babafemi Ojudu, a former presidential aide, lamented that it took nearly 30 minutes for election officials to successfully capture his fingerprints and photograph before he was accredited to vote at his polling unit in Ereguru, Ward 8, Ado-Ekiti Local Government Area. Speaking with journalists, Ojudu expressed concern that the slow accreditation process could discourage popular participation and disenfranchise many voters. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Dr Wole Oluyede, also criticised the performance of the BVAS, describing the electoral process as unacceptable after the machine malfunctioned at his polling unit in Unit 6, Ward 3, Osagburu Family Hall. Oluyede noted that only six voters had been accredited since voting began at about 8:30 a.m., as INEC officials struggled to fix the faulty machine, describing the electoral process as “nonsense” and expressing frustration that many of his supporters were yet to vote. Similarly, there were reports of BVAS difficulties in capturing the fingerprints and facial features of some elderly voters at Ward 6, Unit 005, Oke Iyinmi area of Ado Local Government, with electoral officials seen making repeated attempts before some of the affected voters could be successfully accredited. An elderly man, Gabriel Ojo, described the incident as unfortunate, urging INEC to improve the voting process, particularly for the elderly.

The EU-SDGN observation hub raised concerns over what they described as “well-organised voter inducement and vote-buying schemes,” revealing that 24 separate cases of vote-buying and voter intimidation were documented across nine local government areas. According to the report, some of the incidents were allegedly aimed at compromising the secrecy of the ballot and influencing voter choices. Civil society organisations had earlier raised alarms over reports of pre-credited bank accounts being used to harvest voters’ Permanent Voter Card details and National Identification Numbers in exchange for votes in Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ikole, Ikere, Ekiti East, and Ekiti West Local Government Areas. Premium Times reporters monitoring the election observed that party agents in Ise-Ekiti and Emure-Ekiti were using numbered slips instead of cash to facilitate vote-buying. The agents were seen asking voters to display their marked ballot papers as proof of their voting preference before issuing the numbered slips, which were believed to be linked to subsequent payments. In a separate incident, an agent of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was observed assisting some voters to thumbprint ballot papers and insert them into the ballot box at Polling Unit 007, Babafemi House, Isan, Ward 11, in Oye Local Government Area, with an official of Civil Defence present at the polling unit failing to intervene. The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dare Bejide, alleged incidents of vote-buying and assault of his driver at his polling unit in Polling Unit 004, Ward 2, Oke Adura, Ilawe-Ekiti. Bejide accused members of the APC of openly distributing money to voters in an attempt to influence the outcome of the election and claimed that several APC leaders, including local government officials, gathered at the polling unit with large sums of money for vote-buying purposes. According to Bejide, his driver sustained injuries during an altercation at the polling unit while trying to shield him from being pushed, and was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment. The ADC flagbearer said the incident had been reported to the police but expressed dissatisfaction with the inadequate response of security personnel at the scene. A mild drama unfolded at Unit 4, Ward 2, Ilawe Ekiti, as supporters of the APC and ADC engaged in a heated confrontation over allegations of vote-buying, which reportedly escalated into a physical altercation, leaving one ADC supporter with a head injury and requiring urgent medical attention. Responding to the allegations, APC chieftain Makinde Araoye dismissed the claims and maintained that the election was being conducted peacefully across the state, expressing confidence that Governor Biodun Oyebanji would secure re-election.

READ ALSO:

On inclusiveness, the observers commended the active participation of women, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other vulnerable groups in the electoral process. The Nigerian Women Trust Fund, one of the organisations within the observation hub, reported that women, who constitute about 51 per cent of the voting population in Ekiti State, participated actively as voters, polling officials, and party agents. According to the report, women accounted for 58 per cent of polling unit officials observed, while their presence on voting queues was described as significant across the state. The observers also noted substantial participation by persons with disabilities, with no major incidents of harassment or discrimination recorded. The report indicated that nearly 90 per cent of polling units observed were physically accessible to PWDs, while priority voting arrangements were implemented in more than 80 per cent of the locations monitored. However, a few operational challenges were recorded, including the initial denial of priority voting to a nursing mother in Ise/Orun Local Government Area and BVAS difficulties in capturing the biometrics of some elderly voters in Ikere Local Government Area. On security, the EU-backed observers described the overall atmosphere as calm and peaceful, noting the deployment of between five and 10 security personnel to each of the state’s 2,442 polling units. The mission said voting proceeded without significant disruption, large-scale violence, or major operational failures in most parts of the state. However, the mission disclosed that 24 incidents of violence were reported across 10 local government areas, including Ado-Ekiti, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Emure, Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje, Ijero, Ise/Orun, Gboyin, Ikole, and Oye. The observation hub further reported that journalists generally enjoyed unhindered access to polling units across the state and commended efforts by stakeholders to counter misinformation, fake news, and disinformation during the election. However, it noted that security operatives in some areas, including Ikere, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti South-West, Ekiti West, and Ikole local government areas, restricted the movement of journalists, while some party agents allegedly obstructed media practitioners from carrying out their duties.

The group urged INEC to promptly replace malfunctioning BVAS machines, extend voting hours in polling units affected by technical challenges, and ensure strict compliance with guidelines on result transmission and publication. It also called on security agencies to intensify efforts against vote-buying, maintain neutrality throughout the process, and provide adequate security during result collation. Political parties and candidates were urged to desist from voter inducement, caution their supporters against violence, and respect the will of the electorate. The observers equally advised voters to reject financial inducements, vote according to their conscience, and protect the secrecy of their ballots. Describing its findings as preliminary, the EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub said it would continue monitoring the voting, collation, and results declaration processes before issuing a comprehensive post-election assessment. The election has been viewed as a critical test of Nigeria’s electoral framework and a dress rehearsal for the 2027 general elections.