Ekiti Decides: Voter Registration Climbs to 44%, Turnout Falls Across 3 Election Cycles
As Ekiti state prepares for its upcoming election on June 20, 2026, data shows that despite an increase in voter registration, the state over the years has continued to witness a decrease in voter turnout. A review of election statistics from 2014, 2018, and 2022 reveals that while the number of registered voters and Permanent […]
a youth corps member displays an empty ballot box before the commencement of voting at a polling unit in wuse zone 2, abuja, during the last general elections
As Ekiti state prepares for its upcoming election on June 20, 2026, data shows that despite an increase in voter registration, the state over the years has continued to witness a decrease in voter turnout.
A review of election statistics from 2014, 2018, and 2022 reveals that while the number of registered voters and Permanent Voter Card (PVC) collections continued to rise, voter turnout declined significantly over the same period.
According to the data, registered voters increased steadily from 733,766 in 2014 to 909,585 in 2018, and reached 989,224 in 2022.
However, for the upcoming election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) disclosed that 1,059,360 voters have been registered for the June 20, 2026, governorship election in Ekiti State.
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This represents a 44 percent increase over 12 years.
Past Election Trend
Between 2014 and 2022, the number of accredited voters has consistently fallen short of the number of registered voters in Ekiti state. Voter registration and participation have over time moved in the opposite direction.
The state had 733,766 registered voters in 2014; it increased to 909,585 in 2018, and reached 989,224 in 2022. Despite the number recorded, the voter turnout was lower.
Out of these numbers, 371,925 people collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) in 2014. It rose to 576,346 in 2018 and reached 749,065 in 2022.
Similarly, the number of accredited voters increased from 369,257 in 2014 to 405,861 in 2018 but fell to 363,438 in 2022.
Analysis revealed that 50 percent of registered voters cast their ballots in 2014; turnout fell to 44 percent in 2018 and dropped to 37 percent in 2022.
Findings revealed that some of the causes of voters’ apathy in an election are due to unfulfilled promises, insecurity, inconvenient voting exercise, electoral malpractice, predetermined outcomes, among others.
However, Prof. Josh Amupitan, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, has assured stakeholders that the commission would deploy technology effectively to guarantee transparency in the Ekiti state election.
He maintained that votes would count in Ekiti, urging eligible voters to come out en masse on election day.
“I want to assure you that your votes will count. During the last Anambra election under my watch, results were transmitted promptly and transparently. By 7 p.m. on election day, about 93 per cent of the results had already been uploaded to the IReV portal,” he stated.
The INEC chairman also warned political parties against vote buying and other electoral offences, describing such practice as a threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
He noted that security and anti-corruption agencies, including the police, EFCC and ICPC, would be expected to arrest and prosecute offenders.