Issued: 2:00pm – Saturday, 20th June 2026
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room is observing the Ekiti State Governorship elections scheduled for Saturday, 20th June 2026 in the 16 Local Government Areas. Reports from our networks of observers and partners showed early deployment of election officials and materials across the State. The average time of arrival of election officials in the polling units observed is 7.30 am. However, in many polling units, election officials were not deployed in adequate number leading to interference by polling agents who appeared to be assisting the election officials.
The Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned properly in most polling units observed. However, there were reports of malfunctioning of BVAS in a few polling units causing delays in accreditation and voting. In most places where BVAS malfunctioned, it failed to authenticate voters especially the elderly using facial detection. Our observers reported slow response of INEC officials to the problem.
Situation Room observers reported that some voters could not identify their polling units due to the relocation of some polling units by INEC. In addition, voters, particularly Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the aged, faced serious difficulties accessing their polling units due to inaccessibility of the location of these polling units. In some polling units, voting cubicles were sited in places with staircases and were positioned in ways that violated the secrecy of the votes. In some cases, polling units were located in-front of private residences in contravention of election regulations. Reports from TAF Africa, a Situation Room partner, identified several polling units in Ado-Ekiti with little or no disability-inclusive resources.
Vote buying and voter inducement were reported in some polling units observed in Ado-Ekiti, Ikere and Gboyin LGAs. In some cases, voters were issued hand-bands after voting and were rewarded at the show of the hand-bands. Polling agents were seen interfering in the election process by directing election officials and assisting voters to cast their votes in breach of the secrecy of voting.
Situation Room observers reported sufficient and early deployment of security personnel in most polling units. Situation Room partner, CLEEN Foundation reports that security officials conducted themselves in a civil manner and were easily identifiable with their name tags. However, Situation Room notes that they were not active in enforcing election regulations especially were polling agents were seen inducing voters.
Situation Room will continue to observe the voting process as it ends at 2:30pm.
SIGNED:
Celestine Odo
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
Mma Odi
Co-Convener, Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room
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The Situation Room is made up of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) working in support of credible and transparent elections in Nigeria and includes such groups as Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC), CLEEN Foundation, Action Aid Nigeria, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Emma Ezeazu Centre for Good Governance, Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Enough is Enough Nigeria, LAPDO, Community Life Project/Reclaim Naija, Proactive Gender Initiative (PGI), RULAAC, Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD), Upline Centre for Development, Stakeholder Democracy Network, Human Rights Monitor, CISLAC, and several other CSOs numbering more than seventy.