By Ayodele Abere
The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria, EU-SDGN, Election Observation Hub has described Saturday’s June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election as a crucial test of the Electoral Act 2026 and a dress rehearsal for the 2027 general election.
Addressing journalists on Friday at the observation hub in Ado-Ekiti, the Hub said the election offers the first major opportunity to assess the effectiveness of Nigeria’s new electoral legal framework, which is aimed at strengthening transparency, credibility and public confidence in the electoral process.
The Hub noted that all stakeholders, including the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, political parties, security agencies, the media and voters, have a collective responsibility to ensure the election reflects the true will of the people.
It urged INEC to sustain its commitment to transparency and professionalism, particularly in the deployment of election materials, operation of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System, BVAS, electronic transmission of results and transparent collation of outcomes.
The Hub called on security agencies to remain neutral and adopt intelligence-driven operations to guarantee the safety of voters, election officials, journalists, observers and electoral materials throughout the exercise.
It expressed concern over the persistent threats of vote-buying, misinformation and political intimidation. The group urged political parties and candidates to reject all forms of electoral malpractice and allow citizens to vote freely without fear or coercion.
The Hub also appealed to the media to verify information before publication and to refrain from disseminating fake news or announcing election results from unofficial sources.
It encouraged voters to come out in large numbers, arrive at their polling units by 8:30 a.m., and report any incidents of violence, vote-buying or electoral misconduct to the appropriate authorities.
According to the EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub, the conduct and outcome of the Ekiti governorship election will shape public confidence in future elections and provide valuable lessons for the successful conduct of the 2027 general election.
