INEC Urges Media to Investigate Vote-Buying in Osun

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called on journalists to investigate vote-buying in preparation for the upcoming governorship election in Osun State, scheduled for August 15. Mohan Kudu Haruna, delivering a keynote address on behalf of Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner Oluwatoyin Babalola at a media stakeholders forum in Osogbo, described vote-buying as a disturbing development.

He referenced incidents during the June 20 governorship election in Ekiti State, where political actors allegedly induced voters with cash at polling units. Haruna urged editors to allocate resources for investigative reporting to document the names, locations, and amounts involved in vote-buying activities.

He highlighted the legal framework for prosecuting electoral offenses, citing Section 22 of the Electoral Act 2026, which prescribes fines and imprisonment for offenders. INEC is also preparing for the Osun governorship election by clearing candidates from 14 registered political parties and deploying a bimodal voter accreditation system.

However, Haruna expressed concern over declining voter turnout, noting that fewer than four out of ten registered voters were accredited during the Ekiti election.