The National Peace Commission has cautioned against vote-buying and rising insecurity as it intensifies efforts to ensure a peaceful governorship election in Ekiti State ahead of the June 20, 2026 poll.
The commission urged security agencies to take proactive steps to address kidnapping and interpersonal violence, which it described as significant threats to voter participation and the credibility of the electoral process.
NPC Project Manager, Asabe Ndahi, gave the warning on Friday in Ado Ekiti during a three-day Stakeholders’ Validation Forum organised by the commission through its secretariat, the Kukah Centre, with funding support from the European Union.
The forum brought together key electoral stakeholders, including security agencies, political actors, civil society organisations, faith leaders, traditional rulers, media practitioners, and community representatives.
Ndahi explained that conflict prevention remains central to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic processes, noting that the validation exercise was designed to strengthen local ownership of electoral risk assessments and generate practical recommendations for preventing violence.
“The NPC is committed to working with electoral authorities, security agencies and community actors to promote dialogue, preventive engagement and adherence to peace accords before, during, and after elections,” she said.
She emphasised that curbing vote-buying and tackling insecurity would not only boost public confidence in the electoral system but also encourage broader citizen participation in the upcoming governorship election.
