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ABUJA, NIGERIA — The Movement for Credible Elections (MCE) has called for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into allegations of vote-buying, the use of allegedly pre-thumbprinted ballot papers, and the suspected distribution of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State.
The election monitoring group said it was deeply concerned by reports of electoral irregularities emerging from several parts of the state, despite the generally peaceful conduct of voters and election officials across many polling units.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Head of its National Secretariat, Veteran Che Olawale Okunniyi, the organisation commended residents for their resilience and commitment to democratic participation but warned that unresolved allegations could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
According to the group, videos circulating on social media and reports from voters, party agents, election observers and political stakeholders have raised serious questions about the integrity of the election.
Among the incidents highlighted by MCE was an allegation of vote-buying involving the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Dare Bejide, who reportedly confronted an individual accused of distributing money to voters. The confrontation allegedly escalated into a heated exchange involving politicians and security personnel.
The election advocacy group also expressed concern over reports of a dramatic incident at a polling unit where election officials and party representatives reportedly challenged the authenticity of an allegedly pre-thumbprinted ballot paper.
According to MCE, video footage circulating online appeared to show a tense disagreement among electoral stakeholders over the ballot paper in question. The organisation noted that while the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, the allegation strikes at the core of electoral credibility and should not be ignored.
Even more troubling, the group said, were videos and testimonies alleging that uncollected PVCs were distributed to individuals suspected by local residents and observers to have been brought into the state from outside Ekiti to influence the outcome of the election.
MCE warned that if such claims are substantiated, they would amount to a serious assault on Nigeria’s electoral system and could represent one of the gravest forms of electoral fraud.
“The circulation of these videos has generated widespread public concern and threatens to undermine confidence in the integrity of the electoral process,” the organisation stated.
The group consequently urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to launch an immediate investigation into all allegations of vote-buying, voter inducement and other reported electoral malpractices.
Among its demands, MCE called for a forensic review of the alleged pre-thumbprinted ballot paper incident, including identification of the affected polling unit, examination of election materials and determination of whether electoral procedures were compromised.
The organisation also requested an urgent investigation into claims regarding the alleged distribution of uncollected PVCs and the purported importation of non-resident voters into the state.
Furthermore, it urged INEC to publish verifiable records relating to uncollected PVCs in Ekiti and disclose safeguards put in place to prevent unauthorised access to voter cards.
MCE also called on electoral and law enforcement authorities to review all video evidence currently circulating online and prosecute anyone found culpable of vote-buying, ballot manipulation, voter impersonation, illegal possession of PVCs or other electoral offences.
The group further advocated the establishment of a transparent complaints and incident-reporting mechanism through which citizens, journalists, election observers and party agents can submit evidence of electoral malpractice.
It additionally urged a joint public briefing by INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to address the allegations and outline measures being taken to safeguard the integrity of the election.
MCE stressed that security agencies must maintain strict neutrality and professionalism throughout the remaining stages of the electoral process, including the collation and declaration of results.
The organisation also appealed to political parties and candidates to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and pursue any grievances through lawful and constitutional channels.
“The credibility of any election depends not merely on the declaration of results but on public confidence that every vote counted was lawfully cast and that electoral laws were respected throughout the process,” the statement said.
MCE maintained that the people of Ekiti deserve an election that genuinely reflects their democratic choices and not one overshadowed by allegations of vote-buying, ballot manipulation, voter impersonation or abuse of electoral materials.
The group said it would continue to monitor developments and publish a comprehensive post-election assessment based on verified evidence gathered from observers, citizens and stakeholders across the state.
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