Yiaga Africa has said the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election recorded notable improvements in election day administration, but warned that persistent integrity challenges undermined the credibility of the exercise.
In its final assessment of the election, jointly signed by the Chair of the 2026 Ekiti Election Observation Mission, Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, and the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, the civil society organisation commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for improvements in logistics, early deployment of personnel and materials, and the generally peaceful conduct of the poll.
According to the group, 75 per cent of polling units had received INEC officials by 7:30 a.m., while 99 per cent had done so by 8:30 a.m. Accreditation and voting had also commenced in 70 per cent of polling units by 8:30 a.m., rising to 98 per cent by 9:30 a.m.
Yiaga Africa also praised security agencies, particularly the police, for maintaining professionalism throughout the election.
However, the organisation expressed concern over widespread reports of vote buying and voter inducement, saying the practices posed a serious threat to the integrity of voter choice.
The group further identified shortcomings in results management, voter turnout computation, consistency of sensitive election materials and communication of late administrative and judicial changes affecting the election.
It disclosed that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) malfunctioned in 13 per cent of polling units monitored, although most of the issues were eventually resolved. It also reported instances where voters were allegedly accredited without presenting Permanent Voter Cards.
Yiaga Africa noted that ballot secrecy was compromised in some polling units and called on INEC to strengthen quality assurance mechanisms and improve coordination in implementing provisions of the Electoral Act.
The organisation also urged security agencies to intensify efforts to arrest and prosecute electoral offenders, especially those involved in vote buying and voter intimidation.
The assessment came shortly after INEC declared Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress winner of the election after he swept all 16 local government areas of the state.
