The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub issued its post-election statement after voting closed in Ekiti’s governorship poll.
The voting ended across over 2,000 units in 16 LGAs. INEC extended hours where delays hit and let voters already in line cast ballots. Form EC60E was pasted in most units, but some gaps remain.
Initial BVAS glitches were largely fixed. As the first major test of the Electoral Act 2026, INEC began electronic transmission to IReV. The Hub is checking uploads against polling unit results.
Priority voting for PWDs was mostly enforced, though rural access gaps persist. TAF Africa deployed 150 observers, 50 PWDs, to track it. Zero female candidates ran across 13 parties.
Polling stayed generally calm with no major violence. 12,000 police deployed under CP Falade. Security escorted Presiding Officers to collation centres, which have reinforced protection.
Isolated vote buying attempts were reported. The Hub kept issuing verified updates to counter fake results and warned media against unofficial tallies.
The Hub now shifts to monitoring ward, LGA, and state collation. It wants open collation with agents and observers present, plus timely, transparent results per the Electoral Act 2026. Parties were reminded to honour the peace accord.
EU-SDGN commended voters and INEC for acting on its noon recommendations. But it said final credibility depends on transparent collation, electronic transmission, and how incidents are resolved.
