The National Peace Commission has warned against vote buying, kidnapping and rising insecurity ahead of the Ekiti 2026 governorship election, stressing that urgent preventive measures are needed to safeguard electoral credibility and voter participation.
Speaking in Ado Ekiti during a three-day Stakeholders’ Validation Forum organised through its secretariat, the Kukah Centre, NPC Project Manager Asabe Ndahi said conflict prevention remains central to protecting Nigeria’s democratic process. The forum, supported by the European Union, brought together security agencies, political actors, civil society groups, faith leaders, traditional rulers and media practitioners.
Kidnapping, Violence Pose Indirect Election Threats
Ndahi called on security agencies to adopt proactive strategies to curb kidnapping and interpersonal violence, describing them as indirect threats to election logistics and turnout confidence.
NPC Monitoring, Evaluation and Training Officer Deborah Obafemi disclosed that Ekiti recorded eight security incidents across six local government areas between August 2025 and January 2026, leading to two deaths. Although none were officially classified as election-related, she warned that repeated violence could discourage the movement of voters, electoral officials and ad-hoc staff during the June 20, 2026 poll.
She recommended hotspot-focused patrols, improved intelligence gathering along rural corridors and enhanced protection for collation centres.
Vote Buying Undermines Democratic Participation
NPC Senior Programmes Manager Esrom Ajanya identified vote buying in Ekiti as a growing challenge that is weakening political accountability. He noted that voter turnout dropped from over 50 per cent in 2014 to below 37 per cent in 2022, despite high political awareness.
“When votes become commodities, policy debates weaken and civic motivation declines,” Ajanya said.
Stakeholders at the forum emphasised responsible political conduct, conflict-sensitive reporting and sustained civic education as critical steps toward ensuring a peaceful, credible and inclusive Ekiti 2026 governorship election.
