The All Progressives Congress and Accord Party have been accused of engaging in widespread vote buying across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with voters reportedly offered between N10,000 and N20,000.
The alleged inducement reportedly began several days before the election, with some voters claiming that party agents collected their account details with plans to transfer money after they cast their ballots.
The election features incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam and nine other contestants. A total of 1,906,390 registered voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards are expected to participate.
Findings across several parts of the state indicated that cash and food items were allegedly distributed to voters. In some areas, beneficiaries were reportedly asked to swear oaths of allegiance to candidates before receiving the items. Viral videos also showed supporters of Adeleke and Oyebamiji allegedly distributing cash, rice, salt and other items.
In Ilesa, residents alleged that APC agents were offering N20,000 per voter in Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East Local Government Areas, while Accord was reportedly offering N10,000 in some areas. Similar allegations were reported in Osogbo, Iwo, Aiyedire, Ila, Ile-Ife, Ikire, Boluwaduro and Ede.
In Osogbo, an APC chieftain claimed that N15,000 was distributed to selected voters, describing the payment as money for feeding rather than vote buying. In Iwo, another party chieftain alleged that N700,000 was allocated to each of the 170 polling units for distribution at N15,000 per voter.
The allegations extended to Ede, where residents said Accord had been distributing N10,000, while APC began offering N15,000. A viral video also showed an APC chieftain distributing bags of rice to women while urging them to support Oyebamiji.
Meanwhile, the police warned politicians and voters against vote buying, stressing that the practice is an electoral offence. The Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, said anyone caught engaging in the act would be arrested and prosecuted.
The election has also been overshadowed by reports of violence. At least eight people were reportedly killed between Monday night and Friday morning in Ilesa and Esa-Oke, while soldiers were deployed to several flashpoints across the state amid rising tension.
The APC campaign council and Accord Party also traded allegations over planned attacks and political violence. The APC accused the Adeleke administration of harbouring suspected political thugs, while Accord alleged attacks on its members, supporters and residences across several local government areas.
YIAGA Africa expressed concern that the widespread allegations of vote buying and violence could undermine the credibility of the election. Its Executive Director, Samson Itodo, described the situation as the weaponisation of poverty and monetisation of politics, urging voters to vote according to their conscience.
Itodo further raised concerns about the level of violence surrounding the election, saying 34 deaths had been linked to the build-up to the poll.
