Nigeria is counting down to a round of off-cycle and by-elections scheduled for June 20, 2026, when voters across six states will head to the polls. The vote covers a series of legislative seats and vacant positions, but the most closely watched contest is the gubernatorial election in Ekiti State, which has drawn the bulk of national attention.
The polls are being framed as a significant test for the country's electoral process ahead of larger contests to come. Alongside the Ekiti governorship race, the by-elections are meant to fill vacant legislative positions, making June 20 a busy day for the electoral commission across multiple states at once.
In support of democratic governance, the European Union has launched pre-election assessments focused on the level of preparedness of the electoral umpire, INEC. The exercise is aimed at gauging how ready the commission is to deliver the off-cycle polls and the accompanying by-elections.
According to that assessment, as of April 14 only 34% preparedness had been reported. The shortfall was attributed to constraints around the late release of budgets, which affected the procurement of sensitive materials and the deployment of the personnel who will be responsible for conducting the elections.
For its part, INEC has been carrying out final checks on the ground. The commission's chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, was seen in Ekiti assessing the machines to be used and the staff on duty, and made an instructive comment, stating that there can be no credible elections without security.
Discussing the readiness report, public affairs analyst Dr. Osodike Onovogay said that while security is essential to any election, the concerns raised should not be taken to mean that the people of Ekiti are unable to vote. He argued that voters can still cast their ballots, with security framed as a condition for a credible process rather than a barrier to participation.