YIAGA Africa has claimed that food items are being distributed in advance of the upcoming Ekiti state governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
During an interview on Channels Television’s ‘The Morning Brief’ on Thursday, the Head of Knowledge Management and Learning for the organization, Safiya Bichi, made this assertion.
Bichi remarked that the competitiveness of the Ekiti election would be heightened if there is a significant voter turnout on Saturday.
“Items such as rice, money, Indomie, and various food products are being distributed, along with promises made ahead of the election,” she stated.
Bichi also addressed the prevalent belief among the populace that ‘votes do not count.’
“There exists a common narrative in Nigeria, not limited to Ekiti, suggesting that your vote is inconsequential, and we are urging young individuals to recognize that their votes do matter.
“If votes were insignificant, there would be no one attempting to purchase them, and these are some of the messages we are using to reassure and motivate citizens to participate in our electoral process,” she added.
Her comments come as Ekiti gears up for its governorship election, which is set to take place on June 20, 2026.
In the meantime, Joash Amupitan, the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has announced the commission’s preparedness for the election.
Amupitan has assured voters, political parties, and other stakeholders that all necessary preparations have been finalized to guarantee a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process.
INEC has also reported an increase in the number of registered voters in Ekiti State, rising from 987,647 in 2023 to 1,059,360 in 2026.
