OsunDecides2026: Vote buying allegations surface as voting continues in Atakunmosa East

Voting is ongoing at Polling Unit 010, Registration Area 04, in Atakunmosa East Local Government Area of Osun State, with voters seen taking turns on the queue as the governorship election progresses.

The exercise at the polling unit was reportedly proceeding peacefully as of the latest update, with no disturbance or security threat recorded. Blueprint reports

A voter, identified as Mr Kudus, said the voting process had been smooth, while security personnel remained stationed around the polling unit to maintain order and protect voters and electoral officials.

However, the otherwise peaceful voting process was accompanied by allegations of vote buying, with voters reportedly being directed to meet party representatives or other individuals outside the polling unit after casting their ballots.

The allegations were contained in an election-day field update credited to the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID).

Voters allegedly offered cash after voting

According to the report, voters were allegedly being directed to designated locations outside the polling unit where they would receive cash after voting.

The alleged payments varied according to the political party involved, with the All Progressives Congress (APC) reportedly offering N15,000 per voter, while the Accord Party was alleged to be offering N10,000.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC), meanwhile, was said to have had limited momentum at the particular polling unit.

The allegations could not be independently verified at the time of filing this report, and there was no immediate public confirmation from the affected political parties regarding the claims.

The reported development, however, comes against the backdrop of broader allegations of vote buying in different parts of Osun State as voters go to the polls to elect the next governor of the state.

Vote buying allegations spread across osun

Reports from other parts of the state have similarly alleged that supporters and agents of major political parties have been offering cash to voters ahead of, and on the day of, the election.

A report by Saturday PUNCH said APC and Accord agents had been accused of offering voters between N10,000 and N20,000 in different parts of Osun ahead of the governorship election.

The report said some voters claimed the alleged cash distribution began days before the poll, while account details of some voters were reportedly collected for payments to be made after voting.
BusinessDay also reported allegations that APC and Accord agents were offering between N10,000 and N20,000 to voters in several parts of the state.

The allegations have added another layer of concern to an election already being closely watched because of the intense contest among the leading candidates.

Three major contenders in tight contest

The election is principally being viewed as a three-way contest involving incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salaam.
Adeleke is seeking another term after winning the 2022 governorship election, while Oyebamiji is making a bid to return the APC to power in the state.

Salaam, a former Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, is also seeking to use the ADC platform to upset the two major contenders.

With the election being conducted across the state’s 30 local government areas, every polling unit is expected to play a role in determining the eventual winner.

Atakunmosa East is one of the local government areas in Osun State, with its headquarters in Iperindo.

Security presence remains visible

The presence of security personnel at the polling unit is also part of the wider security arrangements deployed across Osun for the election.

Security agencies have been placed on alert as voters exercise their franchise, particularly amid concerns about political violence, intimidation and other forms of electoral malpractice.

At Polling Unit 010 in Atakunmosa East, the available account indicates that security personnel remained on the ground while voters continued to cast their ballots without any reported disruption.

The peaceful conduct at the polling unit is significant given the importance of maintaining a calm environment during voting and ensuring that voters can make their choices freely.

attention turns to conduct of counting
As voting continues, attention will eventually shift to the closing of polls, counting of ballots at polling units and the transmission of results through the established electoral process.

The allegations of vote buying will also be closely watched by election observers and relevant authorities, particularly if further reports emerge from other polling units.

Vote buying remains a major concern in Nigerian elections because it can undermine the ability of voters to make independent choices and weaken confidence in the electoral process.

For the moment, voting at the affected polling unit in Atakunmosa East remains underway, with no disturbance reported, even as allegations of cash inducement continue to trail the exercise.

Election observers and stakeholders are expected to continue monitoring the process to ensure that voting, counting and result collation are conducted transparently and in accordance with electoral rules.