Ahead of the Ekiti State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, YIAGA Africa has raised concerns over the distribution of food items and cash to influence voters. Safiya Bichi, the organization’s Head of Knowledge Management and Learning, disclosed this during an appearance on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Thursday.
Bichi noted that the election’s competitiveness would be significantly boosted if a high number of voters turn out on election day. She highlighted that items such as rice, Indomie noodles, money, and other food products are being shared, along with various promises made to sway electorates.
The YIAGA Africa official also addressed the widespread belief among Nigerians that their votes do not count. She emphasized that this narrative is prevalent not only in Ekiti but across the country. ‘If votes were meaningless, no one would be buying them,’ Bichi argued. She encouraged young people to recognize the power of their vote and to participate actively in the electoral process.
The Ekiti governorship election is set for June 20, 2026. Meanwhile, Joash Amupitan, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has assured all stakeholders that the commission is fully prepared to conduct a peaceful, transparent, and credible election. INEC also reported an increase in registered voters in Ekiti, from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.