Electoral Behaviour in Ekiti 2014 Governorship Election in Nigeria

Abstract

The June 21, 2014 governorship election in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria, was adjudged to be free and fair. However, the election was unique in the sense that the incumbent governor, Kayode Fayemi lost in all the 16 local government areas of the state, while the winner, Ayodele Fayose, was a former governor impeached in 2006 on account of corruption. This paper examines what informed the political behaviour of the Ekiti people in this particular election.  The paper relies on newspaper commentaries, as well as interviews conducted by the author with a few voters two days after the election. The paper offers sufficient reasons why the so called “power of incumbency” did not work in favour of the APC candidate in the June 21 Ekiti election.