Situation Room Flags Voting Irregularities Despite Calm Ekiti Governorship Poll  

By Joseph Sunday  

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has released its final assessment of the Ekiti State Governorship Election held Saturday, 20 June 2026. In the report, the coalition described the exercise as largely peaceful but said it was marred by low voter turnout, technical glitches, and procedural lapses.  

The Situation Room, a coalition of civil society groups promoting credible elections, deployed over 200 accredited observers across Ekiti’s 16 Local Government Areas, according to the report. 

Findings were supplemented by citizen reports submitted via the Situation Room Election Accountability Tracker (SEAT) app and partner organizations including Action Aid Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation, Centre LSD, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), and TAF Africa.  

The Situation Room noted that voting proceeded calmly in most areas, with security personnel present and officials largely adhering to guidelines. INEC officials and materials arrived on time in most polling units between 7:00am and 8:00am, and 92% of observed units opened polls early, observers reported.  

However, the report recorded delays in locations such as St. Georges Primary School, Ijigbo and St. Thomas Primary School, Irona, both in Ado-Ekiti, which observers attributed to late deployment and logistical setbacks.  

Of 1,028,929 citizens who collected PVCs — 97.1% of registered voters — only 384,940 were accredited and 382,109 votes cast, according to the Situation Room’s tally. That puts turnout at 37.1%, continuing a pattern of apathy in Nigeria’s off-cycle elections. The coalition called the trend “an urgent question” for INEC, political parties, and civil society.  

Observers said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) worked in most areas but failed in several units, especially with facial recognition for elderly voters.  

The Situation Room documented malfunctions at St. Andrew Primary School PU 07 in Ado-Ekiti LGA, Ward 09 PU 08 in Aiyekere LGA, Ise/Orun Ward 003 PU 003, St Michael’s Primary School Ado-Ekiti, and St. Luke’s African Primary School in Oye LGA, where only four voters were accredited by 11am.  

Uploads to INEC’s Result Viewing Portal (IReV) began around 4:30pm, with over 85% of results online by 7:30pm on Election Day, the report stated.  

The Situation Room flagged inconsistencies in party numbers. INEC initially announced 14 parties, but observers found ballot papers listed 19 and result sheets showed 15. Voters still cast ballots for parties with no candidates, according to the report.  

Other breaches cited included voting without PVCs in Ekiti West LGA Ward 5 PU 03. A senior government official in Ado-Ekiti Ward 07 PU 019 reportedly instructed that all registered voters, including absentees, be allowed to vote.  

TAF Africa, a Situation Room partner, reported accessibility problems for persons with disabilities and the elderly, particularly in Ado-Ekiti. Issues included polling units in buildings with staircases, voting cubicles that compromised ballot secrecy, unannounced relocation of polling units, and few disability-inclusive resources, TAF Africa told the Situation Room.  

The coalition also noted alleged voter inducement in some locations, delays in poll openings, and inconsistent application of procedures. It called for investigations into all reported electoral offences.  

To improve future polls, the Situation Room urged INEC to audit logistics and operational gaps before the next off-cycle election in Osun State, clarify PVC usage rules and ensure ballot papers reflect only parties with candidates, strengthen security measures against voter inducement and intimidation, and work with political parties, the National Assembly, and CSOs to address declining turnout. It also asked that electoral offenders be prosecuted as provided by law.   

The coalition commended Ekiti voters, INEC staff, security agencies, observers, and the media for a largely peaceful process. “The lessons from Ekiti should strengthen electoral integrity and citizen participation as Nigeria prepares for future elections,” the statement concluded.  

The findings were signed by Situation Room Co-Conveners Celestine Odo and Mma Odi.