Ekiti DemTalks: KDI Pushes For Youth Participation, Fights Misinformation Ahead 2026 Poll

By Joseph Sunday 

The Kimpact Development Initiative, KDI, has intensified calls for youth participation, voters education and increase resistance to vote buying as concerns over voters apathy and declining trust in the electoral processes ahead of the 2026 governorship election.

The call was made on Tuesday at the  Ekiti DemTalks held at the CDA event centre in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital; where a civic engagement forum organised by the Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI) under its Naija Elections project, and where participants tested their knowledge of democracy, electoral processes, and Nigerian political history through interactive discussions and a quiz competition.

Addressing journalists after the event, Abiodun Banjoko, Senior Programme Manager at KDI, said the programme was designed to sensitize citizens to exercise their constitutional voting rights and to promote the use of Naija Elections, an AI-powered civic technology platform that provides verified electoral information.

Banjoko explained that the platform offers citizens access to details on election procedures, candidates, voter registration, the Electoral Act, the Constitution, and election petition processes, stressing that the tool is meant to counter misinformation and disinformation that usually happens during election periods.

He described the turnout at the event as encouraging, noting that participants showed strong interest in learning how technology could help them make informed electoral decisions.

At the event, the winners of the democracy quiz received cash prizes and souvenirs to reward informed civic participation.

On voter inducement, Banjoko warned against vote buying, describing it as a major threat to credible elections, and urged citizens to reject monetary inducements that do not translate into long-term development such as security, infrastructure, or stable governance.

Also speaking, Olajide Funsho Benjamin, Executive Director of the Disability Not A Barrier Initiative (DINABI), urged youths to collect their Permanent Voter Cards and vote on election day, warning that non-participation would allow others to decide leadership choices on their behalf.

Benjamin acknowledged growing frustration among young people over insecurity, rising living costs, and distrust in government, but insisted that elections remain the only legitimate means of leadership change, adding that civil society organisations are expanding voter sensitization efforts beyond state capitals into rural communities.

In her goodwill message, Mrs Akomolede Oluwakemi, Ekiti State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), reminded citizens that artificial intelligence cannot vote on their behalf, stressing that civic responsibility must not be abandoned despite past electoral challenges, while participants agreed that sustained voter education is critical to rebuilding trust and strengthening democracy in Ekiti State.
Also, the representative of the Resident Electoral Commissioner for the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Ekiti State; the Head of Department, Voters Education and Publicity, Mrs Omowumi Aribisala who stood in for Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi hailed the efforts of the Kimpact Development Initiative for putting up such a programme at a time electioneering campaigns for the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State is about commencing. 

Earlier at the event, while addressing the participants, the Executive Director of the Kimpact Development Initiative, Dr Bukola Idowu expressed his gratitude to the participants for finding time out of their busy schedule to attend the civic engagement programme. 

He called on the participants and the people of Ekiti State to take advantage of the event by learning how to prevent any disinformation or misinformation as the campaigns states using the Naija Elections tool.