June 22, 2026 – Abuja, Nigeria
Opposition parties on Sunday faulted the conduct of Saturday's governorship election in Ekiti State and the series of by-elections across the country, alleging widespread vote-buying, ballot irregularities and administrative lapses by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The tension was palpable at Unit 4, Ward 2, Ilawe-Ekiti, during the governorship election, where supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reportedly clashed over allegations of vote buying.
According to reports, a heated argument broke out after some politicians allegedly brought an undisclosed amount of money to be distributed at the polling unit but were prevented from doing so. One person was reportedly injured during the confrontation.
The clash briefly disrupted voting at the polling unit, but security operatives quickly intervened and restored order.
In a joint statement issued on Sunday, opposition parties listed several grievances, including:
- Widespread vote-buying across multiple polling units
- Ballot box stuffing and manipulation of results
- Administrative lapses by INEC officials
The opposition parties said the Ekiti governorship election was devoid of violence but marred by allegations of vote-buying and other irregularities. They called on INEC to investigate the allegations and prosecute those found culpable.
INEC has defended the conduct of the elections, stating that the process was transparent and credible. The commission said it received complaints from various parties but noted that the allegations were not substantiated with concrete evidence.
The Nigeria Police Force has urged residents and observers to present concrete evidence rather than relying solely on photographs. The police have also assured the public that any complaints of electoral malpractices will be investigated.
Beyond the Ilawe-Ekiti clash, there were reports of other incidents across the country during the elections. In some areas, there were allegations of ballot box snatching and voter intimidation. However, security agencies were able to maintain overall peace and order.
The allegations of vote-buying and irregularities raised by opposition parties are not new in Nigeria's electoral history. However, they undermine public confidence in the electoral process and raise questions about the credibility of the elections. If these allegations are not properly investigated, they could further erode trust in Nigeria's democratic institutions. The opposition parties' decision to protest the conduct of the elections also signals the growing tensions ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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