… Group Asks INEC, EFCC, ICPC To Trace Funds Allegedly Used For Vote-Buying, inducement
…Observers Report 103 Vote-Trading Cases, 38 Security Incidents Across 726 Polling Units
Daud Olatunji
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to jointly investigate 323 reported electoral offences and irregularities recorded during the 2026 Osun State governorship election.
SERAP made the demand in a petition dated August 15, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, urging the agencies to investigate allegations of vote-buying, financial inducement, illegal election financing, voter intimidation, violence and other breaches of electoral laws.
The organisation said the investigation should extend to individuals and groups who allegedly financed, authorised, distributed or facilitated illicit payments and other forms of electoral malpractice.
According to SERAP, preliminary findings by the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub showed that 323 electoral offences and irregularities were recorded across 726 polling units observed as of noon on election day.
The reported offences included 103 cases of vote trading, 28 cases of inducement involving polling and security officials, 31 cases of voter obstruction and 38 cases of campaigning within polling units.
Observers also reported 14 cases of voter impersonation, 12 cases of multiple voting, seven cases of election-official misconduct and 85 incidents involving the exposure of ballot papers.
Beyond the reported electoral violations, 38 security incidents were also recorded, including alleged thuggery, attacks on electoral officials and voter intimidation.
SERAP said the figures raised serious questions about the conduct of the election and the ability of voters to exercise their franchise freely.
“The legitimacy and credibility of the Osun State election result ultimately depend upon whether voters were genuinely able to freely exercise their right to participation and political choice,” the organisation said.
The group also cited reports from the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room alleging vote-buying and other forms of inducement at polling units.
It specifically referenced an incident in Isokan Local Government Area where voters were allegedly offered jollof rice and drinks, as well as the reported harassment of an election observer and disruption allegedly involving thugs.
SERAP further urged the electoral and anti-corruption agencies to preserve and examine financial and digital evidence that could help establish the sources and movement of funds allegedly used to influence voters.
It called for scrutiny of bank and mobile-money transactions, telecommunications records, CCTV and video footage, polling-unit documents and other relevant physical and digital evidence.
The organisation also asked INEC, EFCC and ICPC to investigate compliance with political-finance provisions of the Electoral Act 2026 and publish their findings.
It urged the agencies to arrest and prosecute, where appropriate, persons found culpable of electoral, corruption or other criminal offences, stressing that those who financed or facilitated alleged violations should not be excluded from investigation.
SERAP also called for relevant evidence to be made available to competent election tribunals and other accountability mechanisms where legally permissible.
In addition, it urged the agencies to facilitate independent regional and international assessment of the election by bodies including the African Union, ECOWAS, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and relevant United Nations human-rights mechanisms.
The organisation said a credible investigation would go beyond resolving questions arising from the Osun election, arguing that it was necessary to deter electoral corruption and violence ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“These measures are important not only for accountability for the Osun election but also for preventing recurrence, deterring electoral corruption and violence, strengthening public confidence in INEC and other institutions, and safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the 2027 general elections,” SERAP said.
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