Ekiti governorship poll faces voter apathy, favours APC candidate, says EU

A new pre-election assessment report has raised concerns over voter apathy, funding constraints facing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the weakened state of opposition parties ahead of the June 20, 2026 governorship election in Ekiti State.

The report, titled Ekiti State Off-Cycle Governorship Election Pre-Assessment Report, was produced under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) programme.

According to the report, while Ekiti enjoys a relatively stable political environment and experienced election managers, growing public disengagement from the electoral process could affect voter turnout.

The report stated that “the electorate in Ekiti are historically responsive and assertive in defending electoral integrity, current trends indicate growing apathy and disengagement, driven by perceptions of predetermined outcomes, economic hardship and distrust in political actors.”

It warned that this trend “creates both a risk of low turnout and a potential for strong reactions in the event of perceived irregularities.”

The assessment described the election as largely favouring the incumbent governor, Abiodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), citing divisions and organisational weaknesses among opposition parties.

“The contest is therefore devoid of the traditional competitiveness that have characterised the previous elections and it is widely considered as a one-man race in favour of the incumbent Governor,” the report said.

Although the APC remains the dominant political force in the state, the report noted internal tensions within the ruling party arising from the alleged sidelining of some aspirants and disputes over legislative nominations.

On the opposition side, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was said to be grappling with internal factional disputes that have hampered campaign mobilisation despite the eventual recognition of its candidate, Oluwole Oluyede, following a court ruling.

The report observed that “despite this judicial restoration of Oluyede candidature, the internal divisions within the PDP remain a stumbling block to his ability to embark on effective campaign and voter mobilisation through rallies.”

On electoral preparations, the report acknowledged that INEC had commenced voter registration, stakeholder engagements and logistics planning but expressed concern about delayed funding.

“However, its effectiveness is currently constrained by delayed funding, infrastructural deficiencies and limited scale of voter education and stakeholder engagement, which may impact overall preparedness if not urgently addressed,” the report stated.

The assessment further revealed that the state office’s election preparedness level stood at 34 percent as of April 14, 2026.

It also highlighted infrastructure challenges within the commission, noting that many operational vehicles were non-functional and that several INEC offices in the state required urgent renovation.

“The outcome revealed that most of the operational vehicles are in a state of disrepair and non-functional,” the report said, adding that many state and local government offices were in a “dilapidated state with leaking roofs and deteriorating physical structures.”

Despite the challenges, the report noted progress in voter registration. It disclosed that Ekiti recorded 32,475 completed online and physical voter registrations as of April 18, 2026.

The report also raised concerns about media fairness during the election period, alleging that incumbency advantages have limited opposition visibility.

According to the assessment, “the reality is that of the dominance of the ruling party and its candidate in all the Federal and State-owned media outlets.”

It further criticised the N5 million campaign signage levy imposed by the Ekiti State Signage and Advertisement Agency, arguing that it disproportionately affects smaller opposition parties.

“Consequently, only the billboards, banners and posters of the APC and its candidate are displayed and visible across all strategic locations and public places in the State,” the report said.

The report identified misinformation and disinformation on social media as another challenge, noting that political WhatsApp groups have become major channels for spreading false election narratives.

Nevertheless, it acknowledged that existing security coordination mechanisms under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) provide a framework for maintaining a peaceful electoral environment.

The June 20 poll will be the seventh off-cycle governorship election since the return to democratic rule in 1999 and is expected to serve as an important test of Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2026 ahead of the 2027 general election.