INTRODUCTION
The Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election is taking place today, Saturday, 20th June 2026. The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub, comprised of the Kukah Centre (TKC), TAF Africa, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC) and Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), supported by the European Union under the EU Support for Democratic Governance Project (EU-SDGN), jointly deployed 598 observers to various polling units across the 16 Local Government Areas of Ekiti State for today’s governorship election. Each organisation in the Hub is using a triangulated election observation methodology that combines systematic, statistical, and technology-driven tools to observe a specific thematic area and provide a comprehensive assessment of the election. These include election integrity, election security, disability inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, misinformation tracking, media safety and results verification. The report covers our observation on the adequacy of personnel and materials, opening of polls, functionality and performance of the BVAS machine for accreditation, voter turnout and participation with particular attention to women, PwDs and vulnerable groups, security situation, electoral offences, malpractices and irregularities focusing on vote-buying, intimidation, disinformation and access and safety of observers and journalists. This statement, which should be read alongside our pre-election assessment report issued on 25th May 2026 and the Pre-Election Statement issued on 19th June 2026, presents our preliminary assessment of the election as of 12 noon, based on reports received from our stationary and roving observers across the State. The statement does not constitute a final assessment of the election and will be followed by a Post-Election Report on the conclusion of voting, collation, and announcement of results.
PRESENCE OF ELECTION OFFICIALS, CONDITION OF ELECTION MATERIALS AND TIMELINESS OF OPENING
Based on reports from our observers, polling officials were present and election materials, sensitive and non-sensitive, were complete, and an adequate number of BVAS, Voting Cubicle, Register of Voters, Official Stamp and Ink Pad were in the observed locations. Reports from 246 of 250 sampled polling units indicated the early arrival of polling officials and materials, with INEC officials present at 75% of PUs across the state by 7:30 a.m. Voting also commenced on time, with 69% of polling units commencing accreditation and voting by 8:30 am. The functionality of the BVAS machine was also optimal, with 96 % level of performance in the observed PUs However, there are identified inconsistencies in the number of parties and candidates on the ballot papers and result sheets. For example, while INEC’s final list of candidates contains 14 names, the Form EC8A PU result sheets provide spaces for 15 political parties, and there are 19 political parties on the ballot papers.
PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN, PWDS, AND VULNERABLE GROUPS
Reports received from our observers indicate that the voting process was largely inclusive for women and persons with disabilities (PWDs). The situation reports from about 100 observers deployed to 88 polling units by the Gender and Election Watch (GEW) of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) indicate that the participation of women, who constitute 51% of the voting population, is relatively high despite some minor operational challenges. It noted that women are playing significant roles as polling officials, agents and voters, with 158 (58%) as PU officials, 87 as party agents, with the visible presence of women on the voting queue. Two minor incidents were recorded in Polling Unit 6, Ward Ifaki II, Ido/Osi Local Government Area, where a nursing mother was initially denied priority vote at Polling Unit 13-14-04-010, Erinwa I Ward, Ise/Orun Local Government Area, and Polling Unit 13-10-10-04, Ward 10, Ikere Local Government Area, where the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had some difficulty in capturing the biometrics of elderly voters. Observers reported that their significant participation of PwDs in the election resulted in no significant incidents of harassment. Accessibility measures were also visible with 89.9% of polling units physically accessible, 80.6% observance of priority voting and 71.4% provision of assistive voting devices in the observed PUs. However, accessibility challenges were observed in some PUs such as Units 003, 016 and 033 in Ado Ward C and Unit 013 Ola-Oluwa Muslim Grammar School, Unit 202 AUD Primary School and Ijigbo Polling Unit 033 in Ado-Ekiti.
SECURITY SITUATION
The overall security situation is largely peaceful with the deployment of five to 10 security personnel to each of the 2,442 polling units across the State. Voting is proceeding in most of the observed locations without any significant disruption, large-scale violence or major operational failure. However, the credibility and integrity of the election are threatened by isolated cases of violence and well-organised voter inducement and vote-buying schemes. So far, there are 24 reported incidents of violence across 10 LGAs of Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ado-Ekiti, Emure, Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje, Ijero, Ise/Orun, Gboyin, Ikole and Oye.
ELECTORAL OFFENCES AND IRREGULARITIES
Reports of vote-buying and voter intimidation were received from across nine LGAs where 24 incidents were recorded with specific cases mainly in Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ado-Ekiti LGAs to compromise the secrecy of the ballot.
ACCESS FOR OBSERVERS AND MEDIA
The election environment was generally conducive for journalists, with confirmed reports of unimpeded access to polling units. There were also significant efforts to combat and debunk false narratives relating to alleged INEC administrative actions, candidate endorsements and withdrawals, party defections, voter inducement claims, and purported incidents of electoral violence. The correct information was amplified on mainstream media and social media platforms. However, in some locations in Ikere, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti South-West, Ekiti West, and Ikole, security personnel restricted the access and movement of journalists, while in Ikere-Ekiti, party agents and security agents allegedly obstructed journalists from performing their duties
To INEC
1. Fix any malfunctioning BVAS or deploy a replacement BVAS to polling units experiencing technical BVAS functionality
2. Ensure extended voting hours are granted to polling units that opened late or with BVAS malfunction to prevent disenfranchisement.
3. Allow voters in the queue by the official close of polls to vote with due cognisance of priority voting for vulnerable groups.
4. Ensure strict compliance of Polling Unit Presiding Officers with Sections 39 and 40 of the INEC Regulations and Guidelines for the Conduct of Elections, 2026, on closing of voting procedures and electronic transmission of results
5. Ensure immediate pasting of Form EC60E at the polling unit and the instantaneous and realtime uploading of validated polling unit results (Form EC8A) to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) as soon as counting and recording of votes is concluded.
To Security Agencies
6. Maintain professionalism and absolute neutrality in the electoral process in compliance with the code of conduct and rules of engagement for security personnel on election duties.
7. Intensify vigilance around the polling units to arrest those engaging in vote-buying and voter intimidation.
8. Accompany Polling Unit Presiding Offices to the designated collation centres to ensure the sanctity and safety of the sensitive election materials.
9. Reinforce security at the designated collation centres to prevent disruptions and breakdown of law and order.
To Political Parties and Candidates
10. Desist from weaponising poverty through voter inducement and vote buying.
11. Restrain your party agents from unruly conduct and behaviour at the polling units and collation centres.
12. Admonish your supporters to remain law-abiding and refrain from acts of thuggery and violence
13. Respect the choice of the Ekiti people.
To Voters
14. Those who are yet to vote should go to their polling units and exercise their franchise.
15. Reject financial inducements and vote freely without coercion or intimidation.
16. Protect the secrecy of your ballot.
To the Media and Election Observer
17. Verify all information before publication to avoid reporting fake news, misinformation and disinformation.
18. Await the official announcement and declaration result by INEC at every level of collation before publishing or broadcasting election results.
19. Continue to monitor the result collation and declaration process and provide the public with a comprehensive and accurate picture of the process.
20. Report any threat or denial of access to the election collation centres.
CLOSING NOTE
This is a preliminary, time-bound assessment based on information available as of 2:00 pm today. The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub will continue to monitor the remainder of the voting process, collation, and announcement of results and will issue a further statement at the end of the election.
