Ekiti Election: Yiaga Africa Confirms INEC Results, Cites Vote Buying Concerns

The official results of the 2026 Ekiti State governorship election announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) are consistent with Yiaga Africa's independent verification, the election observation group confirmed Sunday. However, Yiaga Africa warned that widespread vote buying and voter inducement cast a shadow over the credibility of the electoral process.

Yiaga Africa's Watching The Vote (WTV) Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology indicated that the results announced by INEC fell within its estimated range, suggesting the figures reflected ballots counted at polling units across the state. "INEC's official results for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election are consistent with Yiaga Africa’s WTV estimate, as they fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated range. This indicates that the official results, as announced, reflect the ballots counted at polling units," the group stated. The consistency specifically supports the accuracy of the polling-unit result tabulation, Yiaga Africa noted.

Despite validating the official results, the organization expressed significant concern about reports of vote-buying and voter inducement during the election. The prevalence of such practices, Yiaga Africa said, raised serious questions about whether voters could make choices freely and without undue influence. "Widespread reports of vote buying and voter inducement raise serious concerns about the integrity of voter choice and the extent to which the outcome reflected the free will of the electorate," the statement read.

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INEC's official results for the 2026 Ekiti State Governorship Election are consistent with Yiaga Africa’s WTV estimate, as they fall within Yiaga Africa’s estimated range. This indicates that the official results, as announced, reflect the ballots counted at polling units.

These concerns echo observations made by PREMIUM TIMES reporters, who witnessed party agents in parts of Ise-Ekiti and Emure-Ekiti issuing numbered slips to voters after they cast their ballots. Election observers suggest this tactic can facilitate vote buying without direct cash exchange at polling units. Vote buying remains a persistent challenge in Nigerian elections, despite efforts by electoral and security agencies to curb it.

Furthermore, Yiaga Africa flagged a discrepancy in the voter turnout figures. The group's PRVT estimated turnout between 34.1% and 38.2%, while INEC announced an official turnout of 38.7%. Yiaga Africa attributed this variance to the voter register used by INEC in calculating the turnout, noting that INEC's figure fell slightly outside its estimated range.

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Widespread reports of vote buying and voter inducement raise serious concerns about the integrity of voter choice and the extent to which the outcome reflected the free will of the electorate.