The All Progressives Congress (APC) and Accord Party have been accused of widespread vote-buying across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with alleged payments ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 per voter.
According to Saturday PUNCH, the alleged vote-buying began several days before the election, with party agents reportedly distributing cash, food items, rice and other materials to voters. Some beneficiaries were allegedly asked to swear oaths promising to vote for the candidates of the parties providing the incentives.
The election is being contested by incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord, Bola Oyebamiji of the APC, Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and nine other candidates. A total of 1,906,390 registered voters who have collected their Permanent Voter Cards are expected to participate.
Alleged Payments Across Osun
In Ilesa, residents alleged that APC agents were offering ₦20,000 per voter, while Accord was reportedly paying ₦10,000 in some areas.
In Osogbo, APC was accused of distributing ₦15,000 to selected voters across the 15 wards. Party officials, however, reportedly described the payments as money for feeding before election day rather than vote-buying.
In Iwo, an APC chieftain reportedly claimed that ₦700,000 had been allocated to each polling unit, with voters allegedly receiving ₦15,000 each.
In Ila, residents alleged that both parties were offering cash, with amounts reportedly ranging between ₦15,000 and ₦20,000.
In Ile-Ife, APC was reportedly offering ₦15,000 per voter while Accord was offering ₦10,000. Some voters also alleged that party agents requested to see their Permanent Voter Cards before making payments.
Similar allegations were reported in Ikire, Ede, Aiyedire and Boluwaduro, with both parties accused of distributing cash and other materials in an effort to influence voters.
Police Warn Against Vote-Buying
The police warned politicians and voters against vote-buying, describing it as an electoral offence.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, said anyone caught engaging in vote-buying would be arrested and prosecuted. He also assured voters and electoral officials of adequate security during the election.
At Least Eight Reportedly Killed
Meanwhile, rising political tension has been accompanied by violence.
Saturday PUNCH reported that at least eight people were killed between Monday night and Friday morning in parts of Ilesa and Esa-Oke.
The reported incidents included killings in Ilesa and the death of Dele Ayegbo, said to be a nephew of APC Governorship Campaign Director-General Wole Oke.
Security forces, including soldiers and armoured personnel carriers, were reportedly deployed to several flashpoints and boundary communities across the state.
Parties Trade Accusations
The APC campaign council accused the Adeleke administration of harbouring suspected political thugs at the Osun State Government House in Osogbo, alleging that the men were being mobilised to disrupt the election.
The Accord Party rejected the allegations and instead accused political thugs of attacking its members and supporters in several local government areas.
Both sides called on security agencies to intervene and protect voters and party supporters.
YIAGA Africa Raises Concern
The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, expressed concern that the election could face credibility problems because of widespread allegations of vote-buying and political violence.
He described the situation as the “weaponisation of poverty” and the monetisation of politics, warning that intimidation and attempts to undermine electoral institutions could affect the credibility of the election.
YIAGA Africa also said 34 deaths had been linked to the election build-up, highlighting the tense political atmosphere in Osun State.
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