In the wake of the Ekiti State governorship election held on June 20, 2026, Yiaga Africa has raised alarms over the surprisingly low voter participation. The organization’s preliminary analysis indicates that turnout hovered between 34.0% and 38.1%, based on data collected from a representative sample of polling units across the state.
Using its Process and Results Verification for Transparency (PRVT) methodology, Yiaga deployed 250 stationary observers and 22 mobile observers across all 16 local government areas, supplemented by 16 collation center observers. The estimates rely on reports from 246 to 250 sampled polling units, covering 98% of the targeted locations. According to the group, if the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirms turnout within this range, it would accurately reflect the actual voter behavior observed at the polls.
Yiaga emphasized that the low turnout is a cause for concern and underscores the need for deeper engagement with the electorate to boost participation in future elections. The complete findings have been submitted to INEC and other stakeholders for review.