The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has strongly condemned reported cases of violence, voter intimidation and vote-buying that characterised the Ekiti State governorship election and several by-elections, describing the development as a dangerous erosion of democratic values and a troubling sign of Nigeria’s weakening electoral integrity.
The group said the repeated pattern of electoral malpractice under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) raises serious questions about the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process, warning that elections are increasingly being distorted by fear, money politics and organised political thuggery.
In a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, HURIWA expressed disappointment that despite the presence of security operatives and personnel of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), incidents of vote-buying, intimidation and sporadic violence were still recorded in several polling units.
According to the group, what occurred in parts of the elections reflects a deepening normalisation of electoral abuse, where voters are allegedly coerced, induced with cash, or intimidated into surrendering their democratic choice.
HURIWA warned that the persistence of these practices is both illegal and unethical, stressing that they pose a direct threat to public confidence in elections and weaken the foundation of democratic governance.
The association criticised security agencies for failing to live up to expectations, noting that their deployment did not translate into effective prevention of electoral offences. It described this gap as a major weakness between physical presence and real enforcement on the ground.
HURIWA stressed that the credibility of elections cannot be judged solely by the declaration of results, but by the integrity, transparency and safety of the entire electoral process.
The group therefore called on the EFCC to immediately prosecute all individuals arrested or identified in connection with vote-buying and other electoral offences, warning that failure to secure convictions would only embolden future offenders and deepen impunity.
It also urged INEC, the EFCC, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services to strengthen coordination and establish a more effective joint enforcement framework ahead of the Osun State governorship election and the 2027 general elections.
HURIWA warned that Nigeria risks further democratic decline if electoral crimes continue to attract weak or inconsistent punishment, stressing the need for urgent institutional reforms to protect the sanctity of the ballot.
The organisation concluded that unless decisive action is taken, Nigeria risks sliding into an electoral culture where votes are no longer freely cast but are instead “bought with cash and enforced through intimidation.”