A civil society organisation, under the Election Observation Hub, have raised fresh concerns over the preparedness, security and inclusiveness of the forthcoming Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election, warning that unresolved gaps could threaten the credibility of the electoral process.
The concerns were highlighted in a pre-election assessment report presented during a media briefing in Abuja.
The organisations called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), to urgently release and effectively deploy election funds to complete outstanding preparations ahead of the June 20th governorship election.
They also urged the electoral body to carry out comprehensive testing of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, (BVAS), and the INEC Result Viewing Portal, (IReV), to ensure seamless accreditation and transparent transmission of election results. The report stressed that delays in logistics and operational readiness could undermine confidence in the electoral process if immediate action is not taken.
The report also identified a number of security concerns across parts of Ekiti State. According to the findings, Ado-Ekiti was classified as a high-risk area for possible urban violence, while Ikole, Moba and Ilejemeje local government areas were identified as vulnerable to kidnapping and other threats.
Civil society groups further warned about vote buying, political thuggery, misinformation, hate speech and possible militarisation of election security.
The report revealed that the Nigeria Police Force has proposed deploying over nine thousand police personnel, mobile units, patrol vehicles, armoured carriers and helicopters under ‘Operation Order Zero Eight Twenty Twenty-Six’. However, concerns remain over possible politicisation and excessive use of force during election operations.
On media and inclusion, the coalition noted that while Ekiti has a vibrant media environment, journalists continue to face intimidation, legal harassment and economic pressure. The report criticised the five million Naira campaign signage levy imposed by state authorities, saying it places opposition parties at a disadvantage.
It also raised concerns over the exclusion of women, youths and persons with disabilities, noting that none of the thirteen political parties fielded a female governorship candidate and no candidate publicly identified as a person living with disability. The coalition called on political actors to embrace issue-based campaigns, reject violence and strengthen peace-building efforts ahead of the poll.
The Election Observation Hub maintained that the credibility of the Ekiti governorship election will not be measured solely by the absence of violence but by transparency, inclusiveness and public acceptance of the outcome.
The report was endorsed by several civil society organisations, including the Centre for Media and Society, ElectHER, International Press Centre, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre and Yiaga Africa.
