馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Nigerian human rights groups affirm Ekiti governorship election met global standards
via Punch Nigeria3 min read
A coalition of human rights organizations, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, has declared the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State as credible, free, and fair, meeting international standards. This conclusion was based on reports from over 200 observers deployed across the state. The coalition stated that the election reflected the genuine democratic choice of the electorate, was peaceful, and largely free from violence and irregularities. The ruling All Progressives Congress and its candidate, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, won the election, securing 319,224 votes. The Independent National Electoral Commission INEC was commended for improvements in the electoral process, including the deployment of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic transmission of results, which enhanced transparency and accountability. The coalition attributed the election's success to INEC's advancements and the professionalism of its officials. Despite the positive assessment, the groups called for electoral reforms, such as provisions for special voters and constitutional backing for independent candidacy. They also praised the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti State, Dr. Bunmi Omoseyindemi, for professionalism. Concerns were raised about low voter turnout, with a call for increased voter education. The coalition emphasized that democracy remains the best system of government and urged stakeholders to strengthen Nigeria's electoral process.
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