Election Monitors Demand Probe of Vote-Buying, Other Alleged Irregularities in Ekiti Poll

The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called for a comprehensive investigation into allegations of vote-buying and other electoral irregularities reported during Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election.

The group, while commending residents of the state for their peaceful conduct and participation in the electoral process, said alleged cases of malpractice must be properly examined to protect the integrity of the election.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Convener of MCE, Wale Okunniyi, praised Ekiti voters for demonstrating commitment to democracy despite concerns raised in some areas during the exercise.

Okunniyi acknowledged that voting proceeded peacefully in several polling units across the state but expressed concern over reports and video clips circulating on social media allegedly showing instances of electoral misconduct.

He said the allegations, including claims of vote-buying and other irregularities, required urgent attention from relevant authorities to establish the facts and ensure accountability.

The group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders involved in the electoral process to investigate all complaints submitted by political parties, observers and members of the public.

According to MCE, addressing reported violations would strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process and reassure citizens that electoral offences would not be ignored.

The election monitor also commended INEC officials and security personnel for their roles in ensuring that the exercise was conducted peacefully in many parts of the state.

It noted that the participation of voters and the relative calm recorded during the poll reflected the commitment of Ekiti people to democratic governance.

However, the group stressed that peaceful conduct alone was not enough, insisting that transparency and accountability remained critical components of credible elections.

MCE called on authorities to ensure that anyone found culpable of electoral offences faces appropriate sanctions in accordance with the law.

The Ekiti governorship election featured 14 candidates, including incumbent governor and All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Biodun Oyebanji, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate Oluwole Oluyede, and African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Oluwadare Bejide.

As INEC continues the collation and verification of results, political parties, civil society organisations and election observers continue to monitor developments and assess the overall conduct of the election.

The group maintained that a transparent review of all complaints would help preserve public confidence in the final outcome of the poll.