Ekiti State governorship election plagued by vote buying and violence worries

The Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) warned that vote buying, voter intimidation and ballot manipulation are persisting in Nigeria’s upcoming Ekiti State governorship election because offenders are rarely punished. Executive Director Ezenwa Nwagwu said a pre‑election survey showed most Nigerians recognise these practices as illegal and demand swift, visible enforcement and protection for whistle‑blowers. He called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the police and other security agencies to prosecute electoral offences impartially.

A separate public‑opinion survey by InterpreteAfrica found that 57 % of Ekiti residents are worried about electoral violence ahead of the June 20 poll, and about 70 % cited security as their top concern. Stakeholders at a policy dialogue—including INEC, the National Orientation Agency, the Inter‑Party Advisory Council, security forces, civil‑society groups and traditional leaders—called for stricter enforcement of electoral laws and tougher penalties to restore confidence. INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the commission is scaling up voter education, deploying technology for transparent accreditation and results, and strengthening cooperation with security agencies to deter vote buying, multiple voting, misinformation and violence. No major inter‑party clashes have been reported yet, but officials urged continued vigilance and better training of security personnel on electoral rules.