Stakeholders in Nigeria’s electoral process have called for tougher measures against vote-buying and electoral violence ahead of the June 20 Ekiti state governorship election.
The stakeholders spoke on Monday during a policy dialogue organised in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti state capital, by the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) and interpreteAfrica.
Participants at the dialogue were drawn from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); the National Orientation Agency (NOA); security agencies; political parties; civil society groups; traditional and religious institutions; as well as the media.
Ezenwa Nwagwu, PAACA executive director, said findings from a recent public opinion survey showed that security remains the top concern of residents ahead of the election, with about 70 percent of respondents identifying it as a major priority.
He said, although many citizens expressed willingness to vote, about 57 percent were worried about election-related violence, warning that fear and insecurity could discourage participation if not properly addressed.
Nwagwu also highlighted concerns over low youth participation, noting that while older voters appear more committed to the electoral process, many young people remain disengaged despite being active online.
He urged political actors to focus on issue-based campaigns centred on security, jobs and infrastructure.
Bunmi Omoseyindemi, Ekiti resident electoral commissioner, identified vote buying, multiple voting, political violence and misinformation as major threats to credible elections.
“The credibility of any election depends not only on efficient administration but also on strict adherence to the rule of law by all stakeholders,” Omoseyindemi said.
He said INEC has intensified voter education and collaboration with security agencies to improve intelligence gathering and enforcement against electoral offences.
Shola Omotola, keynote speaker and former deputy vice-chancellor at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, warned that electoral offences continue to weaken democratic institutions due to poor prosecution and weak enforcement of sanctions.
Omotola said consequence management remains ineffective because of limited institutional capacity and corruption, stressing the need for coordinated action among law enforcement agencies, INEC, the judiciary and civil society groups.
He called for coordinated action among electoral actors to ensure accountability and safeguard electoral integrity.