The CLEEN Foundation has raised concerns about the perceived lack of neutrality among security personnel deployed for the Ekiti State governorship election held on Saturday, despite the poll being largely peaceful and well-secured. In its preliminary election observation report released on the same day, the organization stated that while security agencies effectively maintained law and order across most polling units, nearly half of the officers observed were perceived as lacking impartiality.
Key Findings on Security Personnel Impartiality
The report, made available to The Guardian by the Executive Director of CLEEN Foundation, Peter Maduoma, was based on observations by 60 accredited observers deployed across all 16 local government areas of Ekiti State. According to the report, 46.3 percent of security personnel were rated as "not impartial at all," a development the organization described as capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process. CLEEN Foundation noted that the election witnessed extensive security deployment involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Nigerian Army, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and other security agencies.
Positive Aspects of Security Management
Despite its concerns, the organization commended security personnel for maintaining a generally peaceful environment throughout the election. It reported that about 90 percent of security officers arrived early at their polling units, while more than 95 percent were assessed as approachable and professional in their interactions with voters. "All observers indicated that voters felt either safe or very safe around polling centres, reflecting positively on the overall security management during the election," the report stated. The foundation also observed that the majority of polling units had adequate security coverage, with more than 82 percent having at least three security personnel on duty. However, it identified isolated lapses, citing a polling unit in Ijero Local Government Area where no security personnel were present.
Incidents of Vote-Buying and Technical Glitches
The report further documented alleged incidents of vote-buying and voter inducement in some polling units, noting that security personnel and election officials responded promptly to address the situations. It also highlighted technical glitches involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in several locations, adding that security operatives helped maintain order while the challenges were being resolved. CLEEN Foundation expressed concern over the attack on the Isan Police Station in Oye Local Government Area on the eve of the election, which reportedly left police officers injured and caused property damage. The organization called for an independent investigation into the incident and urged security agencies to strengthen the protection of critical security infrastructure during elections.
Recommendations for Future Elections
Among its recommendations, CLEEN Foundation urged security agencies to introduce mandatory training on impartiality and neutrality for officers assigned to election duties, enforce stricter disciplinary measures against misconduct, and adopt rotational deployment to reduce the risk of bias. It also advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve technical support for the BVAS and strengthen measures to enhance accessibility for persons with disabilities during future elections. The foundation concluded that while the Ekiti governorship election was largely peaceful and professionally managed, concerns over the perceived partisanship of some security personnel should be addressed to further strengthen public confidence in future electoral processes.
