A coalition of observatory groups, European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), on Saturday, expressed concern over multiple issues including isolated cases of violence, organised voter inducement, alleged vote buying and voter intimidation, observed in the ongoing Ekiti State off-cycle governorship election.

The groups’ assessment of the 2026 election poll nearing completion as of the time of this report, was disclosed by Lanre Arogundade, the executive director of the International Press Centre (IPC), who led other members of the European Union group during a press briefing held at the Afe Babalola Civic Centre in Ado-Ekiti, the state’s capital.

Mr Arogundade stated, “The overall security situation is largely peaceful with the deployment of five to ten security personnel to each of the 2,442 polling units across the state.”

“Voting is proceeding in most of the observed locations without any significant disruption, large-scale violence or major operational failure,” he said.

Mr Arogundade, however, noted that the conduct of the Ekiti State governorship election has been threatened by “isolated cases of violence and well-organised voter inducement and vote-buying schemes.”

According to him, there have been 24 reported incidents of violence across 10 local government areas, namely in Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ado-Ekiti, Emure, Ido-Osi, Ilejemeje, Ijero, Ise/Orun, Gbonyin, Ikole and Oye.

He added that reports of vote-buying and voter intimidation were received from nine LGAs, where 24 incidents were recorded, with specific cases mainly in Irepodun/Ifelodun and Ado-Ekiti LGAs, aimed at compromising the secrecy of the ballot.

On access for media and observers, the EU-SDGN noted that security personnel restricted the access and movement of journalists in Ikere, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti South-West, Ekiti West and Ikole.

Mr Arogundade added that in Ikere-Ekiti, party agents and security agents allegedly obstructed journalists from performing their duties.

“This is a preliminary, time-bound assessment based on information available as of 2pm today. The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub will continue to monitor the remainder of the voting process, collation and announcement of results and will issue a further statement at the end of the election,” he said.

The members of the EU-SDGN monitoring the election include the Kukah Centre, TAF Africa, the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, the International Press Centre (IPC) and the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO).