EKITI ELECTION ANALYSIS: Why Observers Gave It 5/10 | Election Matters

Key Takeaways

• The Ekiti election saw early commencement of voting, a positive sign of improved election planning and execution by INEC under its current leadership.
• BVAS performance in the Ekiti election was lower than in previous elections like Edo and Ondo, working in only 82% of units, indicating room for improvement.
• While security agencies were generally professional, there were observed instances where they overlooked vote-buying, which remains a significant concern.
• Innovations in results management during the Ekiti election raised concerns about adherence to electoral guidelines and legal frameworks.
• The declared election results were technically delayed due to issues in the collation process, not a reflection of administrative speed.
• A discrepancy between accredited voters and total votes cast, with fewer votes than accreditations, suggests potential ballot stuffing or missing ballots.
• Youth participation in the Ekiti election was notably low, with older demographics forming the majority of voters, indicating a need to boost youth civic engagement.
• The voter turnout percentage was largely flat compared to the previous election, despite an increase in registered voters, signaling a lack of increased participation.