Sola Popoola
A coalition of electoral stakeholders in Ekiti State has maintained that credible elections remain a fundamental pillar of democracy .
They therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, political actors, and voters to uphold the principles of transparency, integrity, and peaceful conduct ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election.
The call was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a Multi-stakeholder Roundtable on Legal Compliance and Electoral Integrity organized by the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) and the South-West Secretariat of the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday.
The roundtable brought together representatives of INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), National Orientation Agency (NOA), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), civil society organizations, women and youth groups, media organizations, transport unions, faith-based organizations, persons with disabilities, and political parties.
The participants expressed concern over declining public confidence in the electoral process due to dissatisfaction with the conduct of recent elections in the country.
The stakeholders observed that vote buying continues to pose a significant threat to electoral credibility, while declining voter turnout and security concerns could negatively affect participation in the Ekiti governorship election.
They emphasized that the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act and INEC’s regulations and guidelines present an opportunity for the electoral body to deliver a transparent, peaceful, and credible election.
Among the key resolutions reached at the meeting was a call on INEC to remain non-partisan and ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, particularly the mandatory electronic transmission of election results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
The stakeholders also urged the commission to fully operationalize the innovation of downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) by clearly defining eligibility criteria, establishing a secure digital platform, providing verifiable security features, outlining authentication procedures, and embarking on extensive voter education.
They further appealed to eligible voters, especially young people across the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State, to participate actively in the election and reject vote trading.
The communiqué also called on security agencies to maintain neutrality and provide adequate security before, during, and after the election to guarantee a peaceful environment for voters.
Participants stressed that electoral officials and security personnel at polling units must not influence voters’ choices, particularly those of persons with disabilities.
The communiqué was jointly endorsed by representatives of NIGAWD, INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, NOA, NHRC, NBA, NSCDC, NUJ, NCWS, JONAPWD, FIDA, RTEAN, political parties, and other stakeholders who participated in the roundtable.
The stakeholders expressed optimism that adherence to the recommendations would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and contribute to the conduct of a free, fair, and credible governorship election in Ekiti State.