Stakeholders in Ekiti State have described the June 20, 2026 governorship election as a crucial test of Nigeria’s new Electoral Act, urging political parties, security agencies, the media and citizens to uphold transparency, accountability and electoral integrity throughout the electoral process.
The call was made during a Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable on Legal Compliance and Electoral Integrity organised by the New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) in partnership with the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP Naija) in Ado-Ekiti.
The event brought together representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), political parties, youth groups, journalists and civil society organisations.
Speaking at the event, NIGAWD Executive Director, Princess Abimbola Aladejare Salako, said the Ekiti governorship election would serve as the first major electoral exercise to test the provisions of the 2026 Electoral Act. She stressed that credible elections remain the bedrock of democracy and called on all stakeholders to work together to ensure a transparent, peaceful and inclusive poll.
Salako explained that the Youth Electoral Reform Project was initiated following widespread dissatisfaction among young Nigerians over the conduct of the 2023 general elections. She noted that a nationwide survey conducted by youth-led organisations showed that 57 per cent of young respondents were dissatisfied with the electoral process, prompting advocacy efforts for electoral reforms across the country.
According to her, YERP Naija has engaged thousands of young people through community consultations, campus engagements and policy dialogues aimed at promoting electoral transparency, accountability, youth inclusion and greater citizen participation. She added that the project had also engaged lawmakers, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other stakeholders to ensure that young people’s recommendations influenced ongoing electoral and constitutional reforms.
Representing the Ekiti State Police Command, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Sunday Abutu, assured residents of adequate security before, during and after the election. He said security agencies had deployed personnel across the state to protect voters, election officials, journalists and election observers, while urging citizens to remain peaceful and law-abiding throughout the exercise.
Other stakeholders at the roundtable emphasised the importance of legal compliance and active citizen participation. The Nigerian Bar Association stated that the engagement was designed to identify gaps in electoral preparations and ensure institutional accountability, while insisting that existing electoral laws, including provisions relating to Form K, must be respected until amended through the appropriate legislative process.
Also speaking, Programme Director of the National Democratic Institute, Bem Aga, urged eligible voters, particularly young people across Ekiti State’s 16 local government areas, to participate actively in the election. He expressed optimism that the June 20 governorship poll would set a new benchmark for credible, peaceful and inclusive elections in Nigeria, while the NOA, NHRC and NUJ called for vigilance against vote-buying, misinformation and other actions capable of undermining the electoral process.