By Chimezie Godfrey
The Director of the Electoral Hub, Princess Hamman-Obels, has called on political parties, candidates, electoral officials, security agencies and voters to uphold transparency, accountability and electoral integrity in Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
Hamman-Obels, in a pre-election statement issued ahead of the June 20 governorship poll, said the outcome of the election must reflect the freely expressed will of the people of Ekiti State, stressing that every valid vote must count.
She described the election as a critical moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey and an important test of ongoing electoral reforms, particularly the implementation of the Electoral Act 2026 and the deployment of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s Electronic Collation System (E-Collation).
According to her, the election provides an opportunity for citizens to freely determine the future direction of governance in the state through a credible, transparent and peaceful electoral process.
”Let every vote be counted, every voice be heard, and let democracy stand firm and prevail. Election outcome should truly represent the will of the people of Ekiti State,” she stated.
The Electoral Hub noted that despite improvements recorded in Nigeria’s electoral process over the last 15 years, concerns remain over vote trading, voter inducement, misinformation, declining voter turnout and the risk of electoral violence.
The organisation also expressed concern over incidents of political intimidation, vote buying and information disorder, urging security agencies and relevant institutions to remain vigilant throughout the electoral process.
Hamman-Obels emphasized the need for greater inclusion of women, youths, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and minority groups in the country’s democratic process.
She urged political parties to adopt deliberate policies and affirmative action measures that would enhance the participation and representation of underrepresented groups in elective positions.
The Electoral Hub called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the timely deployment of personnel and materials, proper functionality of all electoral technologies, and prompt transmission of election results in line with established procedures.
According to the statement, voting, counting, collation and result management must be conducted with transparency, fairness and integrity to strengthen public confidence in democratic institutions.
The organisation further urged political actors to focus on issue-based campaigns rather than hate speech, misinformation and divisive rhetoric capable of undermining social cohesion.
It also called on security agencies to remain professional, neutral and non-partisan while protecting voters, election officials, observers and journalists, as well as preventing electoral violence and other crimes.
The Electoral Hub stressed the importance of strict compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act 2026, INEC regulations and other relevant legal frameworks governing elections in Nigeria.
The organisation further advised political parties and candidates to demonstrate democratic maturity by accepting credible outcomes or seeking legal redress through established judicial channels where necessary.
It encouraged eligible voters to participate peacefully in the election, reject vote buying and inducement, and contribute actively to safeguarding the integrity of the democratic process.
”As Ekiti State goes to the polls, we urge all stakeholders to choose peace over violence, integrity over manipulation, and democracy over division. The future of Ekiti must be decided at the ballot box, freely, fairly, transparently, and in the true spirit of democracy,” the statement added.
The Electoral Hub reaffirmed its commitment to promoting electoral knowledge, accountability, inclusion and integrity, noting that the strength of democracy depends on credible processes and active citizen participation.
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