The All Progressives Congress and Accord Party have been accused of widespread Osun vote buying. Voters allegedly received between N10,000 and N20,000 in cash and other incentives ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
According to Saturday PUNCH, investigations across several local government areas showed that alleged voter inducement began days before the election. Party agents reportedly distributed cash, rice, salt and other items to prospective voters.
Some residents also alleged that their bank account details were collected ahead of the poll. Meanwhile, others claimed they were asked to swear oaths promising to support the party that gave them money or food items.
Governor Ademola Adeleke of Accord is seeking another term against APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam and nine other contestants. About 1.9 million voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards are eligible to participate in the election.
Osun vote buying allegations spread across LGAs
In Ilesa, residents alleged that APC supporters offered N20,000 to voters in parts of Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East. Accord reportedly distributed N10,000 in some communities.
One resident, who spoke anonymously, said he received N20,000 at the Bonnke area of Ilesa alongside hundreds of other voters.
“I collected my N20,000 at the Bonnke area of Ilesa on Wednesday. The cash was in N1,000 and N500 denominations. We had over 200 voters and it was done unit by unit,” he said.
An APC chieftain in Ilesa West acknowledged that money was distributed but denied that it was intended to buy votes.
“We are not buying votes. We only provided them with cash to transport themselves to their various polling units,” he said.
Similar allegations emerged in Osogbo, where some voters reportedly received N15,000 from APC representatives.
An APC chieftain involved in the exercise said the party targeted 150 voters in each polling unit. Payments were spread over two days.
“That was not really for vote-buying; it was for feeding before election day. We know what to do on election day,” he said.
Cash, food distributed in Iwo, Ila, Ife
In Iwo Local Government Area, an APC member familiar with the operation claimed that N700,000 was provided for each polling unit. Voters received N15,000 each.
He said the party was responding to similar activities by Accord.
“We are systematic about it because the Accord Party is also distributing money,” he said.
In Aiyedire, residents claimed Accord offered N10,000, while APC supporters allegedly paid N15,000.
One voter said he collected money from both parties.
“Both APC and Accord are distributing money, but APC has the upper hand because it is paying N15,000 against Accord’s N10,000. As for me, I collected from both parties,” he said.
Different figures were reported in Ila, where Accord allegedly increased its payment from N10,000 to N20,000. APC reportedly offered N15,000.
In Ile-Ife, residents also alleged that APC paid N15,000 while Accord offered N10,000. Some beneficiaries were allegedly asked to present their PVCs before receiving money.
Similar claims surfaced in Ikire, Ede and Boluwaduro. Voters said they received cash or food items from supporters of both major parties.
Police warn politicians, voters
The Nigeria Police Force has warned that anyone caught buying or selling votes during the election will face arrest and prosecution.
Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, described vote buying as an electoral offence. He did so while addressing journalists at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo on Friday.
He also assured voters that adequate security had been provided for election officials. This includes Independent National Electoral Commission ad hoc workers and members of the National Youth Service Corps.
Violence heightens tension before poll
The vote-buying allegations come amid heightened security concerns. These concerns follow a series of killings and attacks across parts of Osun in the days leading to the election.
At least eight people were reportedly killed between Monday and Friday in Ilesa and Esa-Oke. Soldiers and armoured vehicles were deployed to several strategic locations and state boundaries.
The APC and Accord campaigns have also traded accusations over alleged plans to unleash violence during the election.
APC campaign officials accused the Adeleke camp of harbouring suspected political thugs at the Government House. Accord countered by accusing opposition supporters of carrying out attacks against its members across several communities.
YIAGA Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo expressed concern about both violence and voter inducement. He warned that the developments could undermine confidence in the election.
“YIAGA Africa is very worried about the alarming rate of voter inducement and violence in the build-up to this election,” Itodo said.
He described the development as the “weaponisation of poverty” and warned voters against allowing money to determine their choices.
“When politics is determined by the highest bidder and the highest tender, what suffers is governance, transparency, integrity and accountability,” he said.
