Stakeholders in Nigeria's electoral process have urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure strict compliance with the electronic transmission of election results during the Ekiti State Governorship poll scheduled for Saturday. They described the election as a critical test of the reforms introduced under the new Electoral Act.
Stakeholders Call for Transparency
The call was made at a Multi-Stakeholder Roundtable on Legal Compliance and Electoral Integrity organized by the Youth Electoral Reform Project (YERP-Naija) and The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative (NIGAWD) held yesterday in Ado-Ekiti. Participants stressed that the Ekiti governorship election, the first major poll conducted under the 2026 Electoral Act, presents an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and accountability through seamless electronic transmission of polling unit results to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV).
Importance of Electronic Transmission
Abimbola Aladejare-Salako, Executive Director of NIGAWD and South-West Coordinator of YERP-Naija, said the election would serve as a litmus test for electoral reforms championed by youth groups and civil society organizations following concerns over the 2023 general elections. She noted that the mandatory electronic transmission of results from polling units immediately after voting and collation is a landmark provision of the Electoral Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in February 2026.
According to her, Ekiti voters expect significant improvements in transparency, inclusiveness, competitiveness, and accountability, all essential for credible elections. “The Ekiti governorship election offers an opportunity for INEC to demonstrate its commitment to the full implementation of the new Electoral Act and restore public confidence in the electoral process,” she stated.
Advocacy and Implementation
Aladejare-Salako recalled that the provision mandating electronic transmission of results emerged from extensive advocacy by YERP-Naija and allied civil society organizations across the country. The campaign aimed to strengthen public trust in election outcomes by reducing opportunities for manipulation during result collation and transmission.
She said the roundtable was convened to facilitate dialogue among electoral stakeholders, including INEC, security agencies, civil society organizations, political actors, and the media, on practical measures needed to guarantee peaceful, credible, and legally compliant elections. She called on all stakeholders to make concrete commitments towards protecting the integrity of the electoral process before, during, and after the election.
Support from National Democratic Institute
In a goodwill message, Bem Aga, Program Director of the National Democratic Institute (NDI), commended YERP-Naija and its civil society partners for their sustained advocacy that led to the passage of the 2026 Electoral Act. Aga said NDI was proud to support the Youth Electoral Reform Project, noting that NIGAWD serves as the South-West secretariat of the initiative.
He described citizen participation and credible elections as fundamental pillars of democracy and expressed satisfaction that youth-focused organizations had moved beyond advocacy to monitoring the implementation of the reforms they championed. “We are glad that NIGAWD and other youth-focused YERP-Naija civil society partners conducted countrywide advocacy for the passage of the 2026 Electoral Act and are now working closely with other electoral stakeholders to ensure that the new law is implemented during the 2026 off-cycle gubernatorial elections in Ekiti and Osun states, and during the 2027 general elections,” Aga said.
Call for Peaceful Participation
As Ekiti residents prepare to elect a new governor, Aga expressed optimism that INEC, security agencies, and other relevant authorities would heed the concerns and recommendations of young people by ensuring a peaceful and credible election. He also encouraged youths across the state to participate actively and peacefully in the electoral process by turning out to vote for candidates of their choice. “Young people are the promise of every society and they have a duty to participate in governance processes such as elections in order to shape the policies that affect their lives,” he added.
Specific Demands on INEC
Stakeholders at the roundtable specifically called on INEC to provide clear guidelines on the implementation of Section 60(3) of the Electoral Act, which makes electronic transmission mandatory while also providing alternative procedures where communication networks fail. They expressed concerns that the exception clause could be abused if adequate safeguards are not established and demanded assurances that any alternative process would be transparent, verifiable, and subject to public scrutiny.
The forum also urged INEC to clarify the implementation of Section 18(1) of the Electoral Act, which provides for downloadable Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) for voters whose cards have been lost or damaged ahead of the election.
