David Williams
...alleges prohibitive fees in LG Election Guidelines
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Ekiti State has instituted legal action against the Ekiti State Independent Electoral Commission (EKSIEC), challenging what it described as “non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2026” in the guidelines recently released for the forthcoming Local Government elections.
In an originating summons filed at the Ekiti State High Court, Ado-Ekiti, on 23rd April 2026, the ADC — through Mr. Ogundipe Ademola Victor and Babatunde Daniel Ogundana, Chairmanship candidates of the party — is asking the court to restrain EKSIEC from proceeding with the elections until key provisions of the guidelines are removed.
The party contends that sections of the EKSIEC guidelines violate the Electoral Act 2026 as Amended, the 1999 Constitution, and the ADC Constitution.
Specifically, the ADC candidates accuse EKSIEC of imposing excessive fees and mandatory tax clearance as preconditions for participation in the election.
The candidates allege that the nomination fees and tax clearance requirements are “prohibitive and designed to exclude credible candidates.”
Speaking to journalists in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the ADC State Publicity Secretary, Rt. Hon. Gboyega Aribisogan, said the legal action became necessary to “protect the integrity of the electoral process at the grassroots.
“We are not against elections. We are against a process that seems skewed from the start. EKSIEC is a creation of law and must act within the law. Our democracy can only thrive when the rules are fair to all players,” Aribisogan stated.
