The governorship election in Osun State is being held amid allegations of widespread vote-buying, political violence and heightened security concerns, with the ruling Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress accused of offering voters between N10,000 and N20,000.

Saturday PUNCH gathered that the alleged inducement began several days before Saturday’s election, with residents in several local government areas reporting cash distributions, food items and other gifts by supporters of the two leading parties.

Some voters also alleged that party agents collected their bank account details ahead of the poll, with promises that payments would be made after they voted.

Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party is seeking re-election against APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress candidate Najeem Salaam and nine other contestants.

A total of 1,906,390 registered voters who collected their Permanent Voter Cards are expected to participate in the election.

Findings by our correspondents indicated that cash distributions began between Monday and Tuesday in several communities.

In some areas, residents alleged that the inducement went beyond cash, with rice, salt and other food items distributed alongside demands for loyalty to particular candidates. Some beneficiaries were reportedly asked to swear oaths that they would vote for the party or candidate who gave them the items.

Ilesa

In Ilesa, residents alleged that APC agents were offering N20,000 per voter in parts of Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East Local Government Areas.

Some beneficiaries said the money was distributed at the residences of APC leaders in their respective polling units.

A beneficiary, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he collected N20,000 in the Bonnke area of Ilesa on Wednesday.

“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.

A human rights activist in the town also alleged that APC supporters distributed N20,000 to voters at locations around Coca-Cola and Abiola Avenue.

At Iroye and Imo, residents reported the distribution of rice and cash, although the exact amount could not be established.

The APC, however, denied buying votes. An APC chieftain in Ilesa West said the money distributed was intended to assist voters with transportation.

“We are not buying votes. We only provided them with cash to transport themselves to their various polling units,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents alleged that the Accord Party was offering N10,000 in some parts of Ilesa.

Osogbo

In Osogbo Local Government Area, APC supporters were alleged to have distributed N15,000 to voters across the 15 wards.

An APC chieftain involved in the exercise said three party leaders were appointed in each ward to coordinate the distribution.

He claimed the money was for feeding ahead of the election rather than vote-buying.

“We targeted 150 voters in every unit. We gave N15,000 each to 75 voters on Wednesday, and another 75 voters received N15,000 each on Thursday,” he said.

“That was not really for vote-buying; it was for feeding before election day. We know what to do on election day.”

Iwo, Aiyedire

In Iwo, an APC chieftain alleged that N700,000 was allocated to each of the 170 polling units across the 15 wards for distribution to voters.

He said the money was being shared at N15,000 per voter and that the exercise began on Tuesday.

In Aiyedire Local Government Area, residents alleged that Accord began distributing N10,000 to voters on Monday.

A voter claimed that both parties were distributing cash, but that the APC was offering more.

“Both APC and Accord are distributing money, but APC has the upper hand because it is paying N15,000 against Accord’s N10,000,” the voter said.

More than 200 women in Ileogbo were also reportedly offered N10,000 each by a group that asked them to vote for the APC.

Ila and Ile-Ife

In Ila Local Government Area, residents alleged that both parties were offering cash ranging from N15,000 to N20,000.

According to residents, the APC was offering N15,000 while Accord was offering as much as N20,000.

One resident claimed that some beneficiaries were asked to swear an oath of allegiance to Adeleke.

In Ile-Ife, residents also alleged that APC supporters offered N15,000 while Accord agents offered N10,000.

A member of the Hausa community in Sabo said APC supporters requested to see voters’ Permanent Voter Cards before distributing cash.

A medical doctor residing in Iremo also claimed that voters in Sabo, Ilare, Oluorogbo and Enuwa had received money from both parties.

Ikire and Ede

In Ikire, the hometown of the APC candidate, residents alleged that supporters of Oyebamiji and other APC figures were distributing N15,000, while Accord was offering N10,000.

In Boluwaduro, residents alleged that Accord offered N10,000 and asked beneficiaries to swear by the Ogun deity that they would vote for Adeleke.

In Ede, the governor’s hometown, residents said Accord had begun distributing N10,000 as far back as two weeks before the election.

The APC reportedly responded by offering N15,000 per voter from Tuesday.

An APC leader in Ede confirmed the development, saying the party decided to increase its offer after observing Accord’s activities.

“The Adeleke people have been distributing N10,000 for the past two weeks. We waited to see how far they could go, and we decided to give them a run for their money,” he said.

Meanwhile, an APC chieftain, Alhaja Falilat Yusuf, popularly known as Ero-Arike, was seen in a viral video distributing bags of rice to women and urging them to vote for Oyebamiji.

Police warn against vote-buying

The police have warned political parties, candidates and voters against vote-buying, saying anyone caught would be arrested and prosecuted.

The Force Public Relations Officer, Okokon Iniedu, gave the warning on Friday at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo.

He described vote-buying as an electoral offence and assured residents that the police would provide adequate security for INEC officials, National Youth Service Corps members and other election personnel.

Violence raises concern

The election was also preceded by reports of violence in parts of the state, with at least eight deaths reportedly recorded between Monday and Friday in Ilesa and Esa-Oke.

Among those reportedly killed were an Accord supporter, Sunday Obube, and Dele Ayegbo, a nephew of the APC Governorship Campaign Director-General, Wole Oke.

Another man, Osaretine Obasohan, was reportedly shot dead in the Omi Eran area of Ilesa on Friday.

The Osun State Police Command confirmed Obasohan’s death but linked the incident to suspected cult-related violence.

Security personnel, including soldiers, were subsequently deployed to several flashpoints and boundary communities, including Esa-Oke, Ilesa, Ikoyi and communities around the Osun/Oyo and Osun/Ondo boundaries.

APC, Accord trade allegations

The APC campaign council also accused the Adeleke administration of harbouring suspected political thugs at the Government House in Osogbo.

Speaking in Osogbo, a member of the APC campaign council’s media committee, Kehinde Ayantunji, called on the police and Department of State Services to investigate the allegation.

He claimed the alleged thugs were being mobilised to disrupt the election in parts of Osogbo, Irepodun and Egbedore.

The Accord Party, however, accused APC-linked supporters of attacking its members and supporters across the state.

Its state chairman, Pastor Victor Akande, alleged that political thugs had attacked homes and party members in several local government areas, resulting in deaths and injuries.

He also alleged that houses belonging to Accord supporters had been vandalised and that some party members were receiving treatment for gunshot injuries.

YIAGA Africa raises credibility concerns

The Executive Director of YIAGA Africa, Samson Itodo, expressed concern that the widespread allegations of vote-buying and violence could undermine the credibility of the election.

He described the level of voter inducement and political violence as alarming, warning that the monetisation of politics and intimidation of voters could compromise the electoral process.

“YIAGA Africa is very worried about the alarming rate of voter inducement and violence in the build-up to this election,” Itodo said.

He urged voters to resist inducement and vote according to their conscience.

Itodo further said the level of violence surrounding the election was disturbing, noting that YIAGA Africa had linked 34 deaths to the build-up to the poll.

“Osun is currently tense and highly competitive, signposted by violence. When you have attempts to undermine institutions from performing their constitutional functions, what you get is a questionable outcome,” he said.

With the election now underway, attention is focused on whether security agencies and electoral officials can contain the tension, prevent further violence and ensure that the final result reflects the will of Osun voters.