The Nigerian Human Rights Community, NHRC, said on Wednesday that the June 20 gubernatorial election in Ekiti State reflected the true democratic expression of the people of Ekiti.
The coalition of human rights groups that monitored the election said the outcome was credible, free and fair, and represented the aggregate outcome of the democratic aspirations of the people.
Addressing the media in Lagos, the group’s leaders, Martins Adeleke, Fred Ojinika, and Akinwale Kasali praised the people of the state for a peaceful and orderly turnout free of violence, ballot snatching, and brigandage that had characterized controversial past elections in the state.
The coalition deployed 200 monitors across the state.
The rights group said INEC ensured real time transmission, making the voting process transparent, truthful, and accountable. Compared with global standards, the election meets international expectations.
This was attributed to improvements recorded by INEC over the years, the progressive and accountable background of the Resident INEC Commissioner Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi and his team, and the fairness and professionalism of INEC staff.
The coalition said INEC’s deployment of BVAS, introduced through innovations to improve Nigeria’s electoral system, eliminated ballot snatching, manipulation of the voters’ list, and fake voter registers, thereby making political thuggery linked to vote stuffing unattractive.
Election figures and process
The coalition said 13 political parties contested the governorship election in Ekiti State on June 20, 2026.
There were 1,059,360 registered voters, out of which 1,028,929 collected their PVCs.
INEC provided voting materials covering polling units and 177 wards spread across 16 Local Government Areas and 19 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs.
The Coalition said: “The INEC-deployed officials were effective and professional in the handling of voting materials.
The distribution of ballot papers, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System machines, and voters’ registers were effectively deployed in real time.
The election in most places began as scheduled. The voting was generally peaceful, orderly, and violence free. It remains one of the most violence-free elections in the history of elections in Nigeria and particularly in Ekiti State. The conduct of voters also indicated overwhelming preference for democracy as the best alternative to any other non-representative government.”
NHRC said that in the wards and polling units visited, opposition parties had their party agents fully represented, removing doubt about manipulation of vote counts, while results were counted in the presence of all party agents.
In almost all polling units, the All Progressives Congress, APC, recorded strong performance in terms of turnout and voter enthusiasm.
“The political space was dominated by the APC before, during, and after the election. At the end of voting on Saturday June 20, the incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji scored 319,224 votes, while his closest rivals, Dr Wole Oluyede, scored 40,533 votes, and Amb. Dare Bejide scored 12,872 votes. In the polling unit of the ADC candidate, Amb Dare Bejide, for instance, APC scored 140 votes, ADC scored 37 votes, and PDP had 2 votes,” the Coalition stated.
The Coalition also observed that at the polling unit of the leading opposition figure, Dr Wole Oluyede, he scored 13 votes while the APC scored 84 votes. In many units located in Ikere, where Oluyede comes from, APC won.
It said the result reflects the true aspirations of the people of Ekiti State and shows the strength of the ruling party in the state. The mass celebration by voters after results were announced on Sunday was cited as confirmation of the support the Governor of Ekiti State continues to enjoy.
Challenges identified by observers
The coalition listed the following challenges for future elections:
Special voters: INEC should consider a timetable to accommodate special voters, including professionals likely to be on duty on voting day such as health officials, journalists, people on admission in hospitals, and security operatives. Special voters are recognized by the Constitution of Ghana.
Independent candidacy: There is need for amendment of the Electoral Act to accommodate independent candidates. This would deepen democracy and allow credible candidates without party backing to contest.
Consideration for elderly and PLWD: INEC should give special preference to elderly people, pregnant and nursing mothers who may not be able to stay long on queues. People Living With Disability, PLWD, should also receive special preference on voting day.
More polling units needed: Ekiti State needs more polling units. The 2,000 polling units are not enough. Towns such as Iloro, Ipoti, Itapaji, Irele Ekiti, Agbado, and Ikoro need more polling units to reduce travel distances for voters.
Voters’ low turnout: In comparison with average turnout in many African countries, turnout on June 20 was below average. Factors cited include poor economic conditions affecting transportation, fear of insecurity, and dwindling public concern about democracy dividends. INEC and political parties need to do more to encourage participation as a civic duty. Irrespective of challenges, democracy remains the best option for Nigerians.
Factors behind the result
NHRC said the victory of Oyebanji and the wide margin over the opposition may be connected to several factors:
Intensive campaign by the ruling APC before the June 20 election.
A blitzkrieg of massive campaigns by the ruling party compared with less activity by opposition parties.
Use of innovative mechanisms such as marketplace engagements with voters and mass communication through extensive pamphleteering.
The power of incumbency, which played a role in swinging victory to the ruling party.
APC’s structure across wards and polling units, placing the party in a strategic position of advantage.
Engagement of independent campaigners through the South West Independent Campaign Movement, SWICAM, drawn from across South West states including Kwara, Kogi, Delta, and Edo, which contributed to the campaign’s reach across different social, cultural, and political layers of Ekiti State.
