Ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State, civil society organisations have expressed concern over the level of preparedness of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
The Coalition which made its position known during a press conference in Abuja under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Phase programme,warned that operational and structural gaps could undermine the credibility of the election.
Presenting the report, Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said the Ekiti governorship poll would serve as a major test for critical provisions of the Electoral Act, including the electronic transmission of results, administrative review procedures, and new electoral regulations expected ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While acknowledging several preparatory steps already taken by INEC, the coalition maintained that the measures were insufficient without adequate funding and critical infrastructure needed for seamless electoral operations.
The report which was signed on behalf of the coalition by the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), ElectHER, International Press Centre,among others revealed that 32,475 new registrants captured during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise are currently being processed, while collection of Permanent Voter Cards has been scheduled for May 21 to 25, 2026.
It also identified Ado-Ekiti as a high-risk area for possible urban violence, while Ikole, Moba, and Ilejemeje Local Government Areas were flagged as vulnerable to kidnapping and other security threats.
