The All Progressives Congress and the Accord Party have been accused of intensifying vote-buying across Osun State, with voters reportedly offered between N10,000 and N20,000 ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
Reports from several parts of the state indicated that cash and food items were distributed days before the poll, while some voters alleged that party agents collected their bank details for possible post-election payments.
The alleged inducement was reported in Ilesa, Osogbo, Iwo, Aiyedire, Ila, Ile-Ife, Ikire, Boluwaduro, and Ede, with the amounts varying from one location to another.
In Ilesa, voters alleged that APC agents distributed N20,000 per voter in parts of Ilesa East, Ilesa West, and Atakunmosa East. Accord was reportedly offering N10,000 in some areas.
In Osogbo, APC agents were alleged to have distributed N15,000 to selected voters across the 15 wards, while in Iwo, party officials reportedly allocated N700,000 per polling unit for voter inducement.
Similar allegations were recorded in Ile-Ife, Ikire, Aiyedire, and Ila, where both parties were said to have distributed cash ranging from N10,000 to N20,000.
Some residents also alleged that beneficiaries were made to swear oaths to vote for the party giving them money or food. Viral videos circulating online appeared to show cash and food distributions linked to supporters of both major parties.
The APC, however, denied buying votes in some areas, describing some of its cash distributions as transportation or feeding support.
The allegations come amid earlier warnings from Yiaga Africa that voter inducement, including cash and food distribution, poses a serious threat to the integrity of the Osun election. The organization also identified security concerns, violence, and other electoral risks ahead of the poll.
The Nigeria Police Force has also warned political parties, candidates, and voters against vote-buying, violence, intimidation, and other electoral offenses. More than 15,000 police personnel have reportedly been deployed across the state for the election.
The vote-buying allegations have added to concerns over the credibility of the election, which is being contested by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, and African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam, among others.
With the poll now underway, attention is on the ability of security agencies and electoral authorities to prevent voter inducement, violence, and other forms of electoral malpractice.
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