YIAGA Africa has alleged that food items are being distributed ahead of the upcoming Ekiti State Governorship Election 2026 slated for Saturday.
The claim was made by YIAGA Africa’s Safiya Bichi during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday.
Bichi said the competitiveness of the election would largely depend on voter turnout, stressing that a high turnout could make the contest more intense.
According to her, food items such as rice, noodles, cash, and other incentives are already being shared with voters, alongside promises from political actors ahead of the poll.
She also addressed the growing perception among citizens that votes do not count, describing it as a dangerous narrative that discourages participation.
Bichi urged young Nigerians to reject that mindset, emphasizing that votes remain powerful in shaping electoral outcomes.
“If votes did not matter, there would be no attempts to buy them,” she said, noting that such messages are part of YIAGA Africa’s voter sensitization efforts.
Her remarks come as Ekiti State prepares for its governorship election scheduled for June 20, 2026.
Meanwhile, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared its readiness for the exercise.
INEC National Chairman, Joash Amupitan, assured voters, political parties, and stakeholders that all arrangements have been concluded to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible election.
The commission also disclosed that the number of registered voters in Ekiti has risen from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
