NPC Raises Alarm: Vote-Buying, Violence, Insecurity Threaten Credibility of Ekiti 2026 Governorship Poll

 

The National Peace Committee (NPC) has issued a stark warning that pervasive vote-buying, electoral violence, and rising insecurity could severely undermine the legitimacy of the upcoming June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State.

The concerns were raised during a three-day Stakeholders’ Validation Forum organized by the NPC in Ado-Ekiti, with support from the European Union through the Kukah Centre. NPC Senior Programmes Manager Esrom Ajanya emphasized that vote-buying has become deeply entrenched, transforming elections into transactional exercises that erode democratic participation and political accountability.

“Vote-buying, previously documented as pervasive in Ekiti elections, has normalized transactional politics,” Ajanya stated. He argued that the commercialization of votes has weakened policy debates, entrenched patronage systems, and reduced civic motivation among voters.

The NPC also highlighted insecurity as a major barrier to credible polls, urging security agencies to take proactive steps against kidnapping, interpersonal violence, and other threats that could suppress voter turnout and intimidate participants. These issues were described as indirect but significant risks to electoral integrity.

The commission called on all stakeholders—including political parties, candidates, voters, security forces, and civil society—to commit to peaceful, transparent, and violence-free elections. It stressed the need for collective action to restore public trust in the democratic process and prevent a repeat of past irregularities that have plagued elections in the state.

With the Ekiti governorship poll serving as a key off-cycle test ahead of broader national elections, the NPC's intervention underscores growing fears that unchecked malpractices could further erode confidence in Nigeria's electoral system.

Observers and analysts have long noted vote-buying as a recurring challenge in Ekiti, often linked to poverty and disillusionment with governance. The NPC's latest alert serves as a timely call for reforms, including stronger enforcement against electoral offenses and enhanced voter education to promote issue-based politics over cash inducements.

As preparations intensify for the 2026 poll, stakeholders now face the urgent task of addressing these threats to ensure the election reflects the true will of Ekiti voters rather than financial or coercive influences.