The much-anticipated 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State is gradually taking shape as the sorting and counting of votes have commenced, News.ng reports.
According to a civil society organization, YIAGA Africa, which is monitoring the governorship election in Ekiti, the exercise has been relatively marred by inconsistencies.
In its preliminary report, released a few hours after the commencement of the exercise, the organization identified inconsistencies between ballot papers, result sheets, and the list of candidates published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the election.
According to YIAGA Africa’s report, while Form EC8A polling unit result sheets provide spaces for 15 political parties, ballot papers in circulation carry 19 parties, but INEC’s final list of candidates, published on its official website as of June 18, shows 14 parties.
The report stated in part: “These inconsistencies might create confusion during voting and collation. Where result sheets include parties that are not on the ballot, presiding officers may record zero votes for parties that voters did not see. Conversely, where voters cast ballots for parties not reflected on the result sheet, such actions could create uncertainty in recording, reconciliation, and collation.”
