Ekiti Poll, Curb Votes Buying And Ensure Real-time Results Transmission- EU-SDNG
In advance of Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been urged by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub to guarantee real-time electronic transmission of polling unit results and step up efforts to prevent vote-buying.
Speaking to accredited journalists, the group issued the call, emphasizing that in order to ensure a legitimate, peaceful, and inclusive election, all electoral stakeholders must be transparent, professional, and accountable.
The observation hub states that INEC should activate its election situation room, make sure all Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices are fully configured and operational, finish the timely deployment of sensitive election materials, and publicly announce results at every stage of the collation process.
The group also cautioned against over-militarization, which could intimidate voters and discourage participation, and urged security services to maintain objectivity and professionalism throughout the election process.
In order to combat vote-buying, electoral violence, and other electoral offenses prior to, during, and following the election, it further recommended that security personnel implement intelligence-led operations.
By opposing vote-buying, voter intimidation, fake news, and the use of political thugs, the EU-SDGN Observation Hub urged political parties and candidates to uphold the peace accord they previously signed.
The media were also advised not to announce election results from unofficial sources, to confirm information before publishing it, and to refrain from disseminating false information.
The organization urged eligible voters to show up at their polling places by 8:30 a.m., cast their ballots in accordance with their moral convictions, and notify the proper authorities of any instances of violence, vote-buying, or other electoral irregularities.
The group called on all parties involved to cooperate in order to protect the integrity of the democratic process, characterizing the Ekiti governorship election as a crucial test of Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026 and a practice run for the 2027 general election.
