NPC Warns Against Vote-Buying, Insecurity Ahead of Ekiti Governorship Poll

The National Peace Commission has raised concerns over vote-buying and rising insecurity as threats to a peaceful governorship election in Ekiti State, scheduled for June 20, 2026.

The commission called on security agencies to take proactive steps to address kidnapping and interpersonal violence, warning that these challenges could undermine voter participation and the credibility of the electoral process.

Speaking on Friday in Ado Ekiti during a three-day Stakeholders’ Validation Forum organised by the NPC with support from the European Union, NPC Project Manager Asabe Ndahi emphasised the importance of conflict prevention in safeguarding democracy.

The forum brought together key stakeholders, including security agencies, political parties, civil society groups, traditional and faith leaders, media professionals, and community representatives.

Ndahi explained that the validation exercise aimed to strengthen local ownership of electoral risk assessments and develop practical recommendations for preventing violence.

“The NPC is committed to working with electoral authorities, security agencies and community actors to promote dialogue, preventive engagement and adherence to peace accords before, during, and after elections,” she said.

She added that the commission would deploy evidence-based interventions and peace advocacy programmes to ensure the election reflects the will of the people.

NPC Senior Programmes Manager Esrom Ajanya warned that vote-buying had become deeply entrenched in Ekiti elections, eroding democratic participation and weakening political accountability.

“Vote-buying, previously documented as pervasive in Ekiti elections, has normalised transactional politics. When votes become commodities, policy debates weaken and civic motivation declines,” Ajanya said.

He linked declining voter turnout to growing public distrust in political institutions, noting that participation had dropped from over 50 per cent in the 2014 governorship election to below 37 per cent in 2022.

Security concerns were also identified as a factor discouraging voter turnout.

NPC Monitoring, Evaluation and Training Officer Deborah Obafemi disclosed that Ekiti recorded eight security incidents across six local government areas between August 2025 and January 2026, resulting in two deaths.

Although none of the incidents were directly election-related, she warned that kidnapping and interpersonal violence pose indirect threats to electoral logistics and public confidence.

“Even though there were no overt electoral violence incidents in the dataset, the patterns recorded, particularly kidnapping and repeat interpersonal violence, represent a measurable indirect threat to election logistics, turnout confidence and the willingness of communities and ad-hoc staff to move freely during electoral periods,” she said.

Obafemi urged security agencies to adopt hotspot-focused strategies, increase patrols during pre-election periods, and strengthen intelligence monitoring along high-risk corridors.

She also recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission adjust deployment schedules to reduce exposure to dangerous routes and reinforce security at collation centres and during the movement of election materials.

Participants at the forum stressed the need for responsible political behaviour, conflict-sensitive media reporting, and sustained civic education to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

Stakeholders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening democratic participation and reducing electoral violence ahead of the governorship poll.