Yiaga Africa, IPC raise alarm over vote buying, journalist safety in Ekiti poll

By Rotimi Ojomoyela

Ado-Ekiti — Civil society organisations have raised concerns over vote buying, journalists’ safety, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs) ahead of Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election.

Yiaga Africa has identified vote buying as one of the major threats to the credibility of the poll, urging security agencies and anti-corruption bodies to take proactive steps to curb the practice.

Speaking during a pre-election briefing in Ado-Ekiti, the Chair of the Yiaga Africa Election Observation Mission, Dr Aisha Abdullahi, said while preparations for the election have largely been smooth, vote trading remains a significant risk that could undermine electoral integrity.

She called for heightened surveillance at polling units and collation centres to ensure voters are not induced or coerced, stressing that citizens must be allowed to freely exercise their franchise.

Abdullahi also commended security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security for coordination efforts, but expressed concern over security hotspots in parts of the state, including Ado-Ekiti, Ikole, Oye and Ikere.

She further warned that recent kidnapping incidents in areas such as Ilejemeje and Moba could affect movement of voters, election officials, and observers during collation, especially in the evening hours.

In a related development, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO) have called for the protection of journalists covering the election, urging media practitioners to maintain professionalism, neutrality, and ethical reporting standards.

Speaking at a media engagement, IPC Executive Director, Lanre Arogundade, and CEMESO Executive Director, Akin Akingbulu, warned that harassment or intimidation of journalists would undermine public access to credible electoral information.

Arogundade stressed that journalists must remain non-partisan and ensure they are properly accredited and visibly identified to avoid unnecessary confrontations with security personnel.

“When a journalist is harassed, barred or attacked at a polling unit, it is not simply that individual who suffers; it is the electorate that is robbed of the witness it deserves,” he said.

Meanwhile, TAF Africa has deployed 150 observers, including persons with disabilities, to monitor the election and assess the level of inclusive participation at polling units across the state.

Speaking during a training session for observers, Assistant Programme Manager George Dominic Anwayi said the deployment is aimed at ensuring that electoral provisions for PWDs are properly implemented under the organisation’s “Able to Vote” campaign.

He said the observers would monitor accessibility at polling units and the availability of assistive materials such as Braille ballot guides, magnifying glasses, and large-print voting aids.

According to him, the group will also assess whether persons with disabilities are given priority during voting, in line with inclusive electoral guidelines.

Anwayi added that deployment would be guided by existing data on where PWDs are registered to vote, noting that security assurances have been received to ensure a peaceful and safe electoral environment.

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