Yiaga Africa Lauds INEC Preparation 

… Flags Mock Accreditation, Security, Vote Buying Risks

By Joseph Sunday 

Yiaga Africa has praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its stakeholder engagement, trainings, mock accreditation and logistical preparations for the upcoming election, despite delays in funding.

However, the group said the mock accreditation exposed weaknesses in applying provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and the 2026 Regulations and Guidelines.

Yiaga called on INEC to ensure timely deployment of election materials and personnel, fully operational Registration Area Centres (RACs), correct use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and transparent management and transmission of results.

On security, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) is leading coordination efforts. While the state remains largely calm, Yiaga identified hotspots in Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Oye and Ikere local government areas. 

Yiaga Africa revealed that recent kidnappings in Ilejemeje and Moba LGAs have raised concerns about the safe movement of voters, election officials, observers and materials during collation, particularly after 7:00 p.m.

Yiaga also warned that worsening economic hardship has increased the risk of vote buying, with cash and material inducements reportedly being used across party lines—posing a significant threat to electoral integrity and public confidence.

Equally, Yiaga Africa the organisation said voter apathy could depress turnout, driven by a widespread perception that the result is a foregone conclusion. 

Still, civic engagement appears strong among women, young people and persons with disabilities, though lingering distrust and doubts about competitiveness remain risks to participation.