Allegations of vote buying have surfaced at several polling locations in Ikire, Irewole Local Government Area of Osun State, with voters accusing supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party of offering cash for votes during Saturday’s governorship election.
Reported offers ranged from ₦2,500 to ₦20,000, depending on the polling location. At Eleye Open Space, a voter alleged that Accord supporters offered ₦2,500, while APC supporters offered ₦20,000.
At Open Gantry Sawmill, Ward 9, Unit 11, voters alleged that APC representatives offered ₦15,000 to voters supporting the party.
Some voters also described an alleged verification process in which voters displayed marked ballots to APC representatives outside the voting area before depositing them in the ballot box. They were reportedly given tallies to facilitate subsequent payment.
At Ologungun Open Space, Ward 8, Unit 001, voters alleged that both APC and Accord offered ₦10,000 for votes.
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The allegations come amid wider reports of vote buying across Osun, with separate reports putting alleged APC and Accord offers in some areas at between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000.
The reports echo concerns raised during the July 16, 2022 Osun governorship election, when observers and civil society groups also reported incidents of vote buying.
The latest allegations have renewed scrutiny of ballot secrecy and voter inducement in the state.
However, the claims remain allegations attributed to voters and election-day reports. They do not establish that either party’s leadership authorized the alleged payments.
Saturday’s election is being contested by 15 candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, who hails from Ikire.