Opposition Protests INEC Over Vote-Buying Allegations

Opposition parties in Nigeria criticized the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) following the Ekiti State governorship election, alleging widespread vote-buying and ballot irregularities. Osa Director from the Nigeria Democratic Congress noted that despite improvements in logistics, there were significant concerns regarding the transparency of the electoral process.

Rufu Aiyenigba from the Social Democratic Party acknowledged logistical improvements but accused INEC of undermining public confidence. The Labour Party expressed reservations about the conduct of elections in the Enugu North senatorial district, citing serious oversights such as the omission of party names from ballots.

Labaran Maku, a Labour Party candidate in Nasarawa North, rejected the election outcome, labeling it a sham due to alleged irregularities and calling for a fresh poll. Similar complaints arose in River State, where the Labour Party and Action Alliance threatened legal action against INEC over alleged electoral misconduct.