Osun guber: CDD flags violence, vote buying, BVAS failures

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), through its Election Analysis Centre (CDD-EAC), has raised concerns over incidents of violence, vote buying, technical difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other irregularities that marred the conduct of Saturday’s Osun State off-cycle governorship election.

In its preliminary statement on the election, the organisation said that although voting was generally peaceful in many parts of the state, isolated incidents of violence and electoral malpractice raised concerns about the integrity and credibility of the process.

The preliminary statement was signed by Dr Dauda Garuba, Director, CDD-West Africa, and Prof. Victor Adetula, Chair, CDD-EAC.

The statement said that the most significant reported security incident occurred at Polling Unit 13, Ward 4, Ejigbo Local Government Area, where African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Najeem Salaam, cast his ballot.

According to CDD-EAC observers, men suspected to be hired thugs disrupted activities at the polling unit, forcing voters and electoral officials to flee and bringing voting to a halt. Security personnel were subsequently deployed to the area.

The CDD said the incident was particularly concerning because of its implications for voters’ freedom of choice and the safety of election officials, urging security agencies to contain disturbances without unnecessarily disrupting legitimate voting.

The organisation also drew attention to reports of disruption in Modakeke, where a video circulated showing an interruption of the electoral process.

It noted that Governor Ademola Adeleke had alleged that voters were tear-gassed in parts of Modakeke and Obokun and called on security agencies to remain neutral.

However, the CDD-EAC statement stressed that the governor’s claims remained allegations that required independent investigation.

The organisation further said that a police officer allegedly involved in the Modakeke incident had reportedly been apprehended.

It called on security agencies to exercise maximum restraint, maintain political neutrality and protect voters regardless of their political affiliation.

The CDD-EAC statement moted that vote buying and electoral inducement also featured prominently among the concerns identified by the election observers.

CDD-EAC said its observers recorded isolated cases of campaign activity and vote solicitation around polling units (PUs), including at Ward 10, Unit 13, Bolorunduro, in Ilesa East LGA, and at Ikire-Ile, Idiroko Primary School, in Ola Oluwa LGA.

More serious allegations emerged through media monitoring. CDD cited a report by Vanguard alleging that agents of the APC and Accord were involved in vote buying at AUD Primary School, Atile, Ikire, in Irewole LGA.

The report allegedly indicated that party agents monitored voters around polling booths and used tags to facilitate payment after voters had cast their ballots. It also reported that security personnel were unable to stop the alleged activity.

The CDD-EAC said vote buying undermines the secrecy and integrity of the ballot and urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force and other relevant agencies to investigate credible reports and prosecute established violations.

The observers also reported that an individual was arrested by ICPC personnel at Irepodun LGA, Olobu B Registration Area, Polling Unit 001, Open Space Health Centre, Ojutu, Ilobu, for allegedly possessing signed paper tallies.

CDD commended the intervention of the anti-corruption agency but called for a transparent investigation to establish the circumstances and purpose of the materials allegedly found in the individual’s possession.

On BVAS challenges, the CDD-EAC statement said that the performance of BVAS was another major operational challenge recorded by the observers.

It said its field observers reported instances of slow accreditation and difficulties with biometric verification in several locations.

“At Olobu B Registration Area, Polling Unit 001, Ojutu, Ilobu, in Irepodun LGA, observers reported delays in BVAS accreditation, while at Ward 2B, Unit 15, Enla Osolo, in Ejigbo LGA, the capturing machine reportedly malfunctioned, delaying both voters and election officials.

“Similar difficulties were reported at Polling Unit 003, St Peter Primary School, in Obokun LGA, and another Polling Unit 003 at St Peter Primary School in Osogbo LGA, where voters reportedly experienced difficulties with fingerprint authentication.

“At Olorunda LGA, Ward 7, Unit 11, the BVAS initially failed to recognise some voters but subsequently worked,” the CDD-EAC statement said.

The observers also reported that BVAS slowed down the voting process at Ola Oluwa LGA, Ward 5, Unit 2, St John Anglican Primary School, Ikire-Ile, although persons with disabilities were reportedly given priority.

The CDD said these observations were consistent with independent media reports of BVAS difficulties in other parts of the state.

The organisation urged INEC to ensure prompt technical support whenever problems with the accreditation machines occur.

Concerns Over Electoral Materials
The CDD-EAC equally called for clarification over the reported custody of electoral materials at Ife Central LGA.

At Ward 11, Polling Unit 011, Ikoyi Quarters, observers reported that INEC officials arrived late, leaving voters waiting. More significantly, a political party agent was reportedly already in possession of the voters’ register before the arrival of INEC officials.

The CDD said the allegation required clarification from INEC, particularly concerning the custody and control of sensitive electoral materials.

At Aiyedire LGA, Ward 3, Polling Unit 003, Araromi Olupona, the late arrival of the Presiding Officer reportedly delayed the commencement of accreditation.

INEC deployment commended
The CDD-EAC statement said that despite the challenges, it commended INEC for what it described as a broadly successful deployment across the state.

The organisation said 89.1 per cent of PUs monitored by its observers recorded the arrival of INEC officials before 8:30am, while 10.9 per cent recorded arrivals between 8:30am and 9:30am.

It said field observations showed that voting commenced by 8:30am in most locations.

It said, “The figures were broadly consistent with INEC’s situation report, which indicated that 3,556 of the state’s 3,763 polling units, representing 94.5 per cent, had opened by 8:30am. The remaining 207 PUs reportedly became operational by 9am.

The CDD described the high rate of early deployment as encouraging and urged INEC to sustain the improvement ahead of the 2027 general elections.

It said that beyond the isolated incidents, the overall conduct observed across most polling units was largely orderly.

Observers reported that PUs were generally arranged in ways that allowed party agents and observers to monitor the process, although one observer said the arrangement at a particular location did not adequately provide such visibility.

“Most Presiding Officers were also reported to have addressed voters appropriately, while persons with disabilities were given priority in some locations.

“Peaceful voter participation was reported in several local government areas, including Ede North, Olorunda, Ilesa East, Atakunmosa East, Iwo, Orolu, Boluwaduro and Egbedore.

“However, isolated cases of disorderliness were recorded. At Osogbo LGA, Ward 4, Polling Unit 001, an observer reported a minor disruption by voters, while at Ola Oluwa LGA, Ward 5, Ikire-Ile, elderly voters were reportedly not given priority and there was a lack of orderliness,” it added.

Too early to declare election credible
The CDD-EAC preliminary assessment, described the election as “generally operational but uneven,” noting that the problems identified were largely geographically specific rather than uniform across the state.

It said that it was too early to make a definitive judgment on the credibility of the entire election because the process was still ongoing.

The CDD urged INEC to provide functioning backup equipment and prompt technical support at polling units experiencing BVAS failures.

It also called for investigations into the alleged presence of a political party agent with the voters’ register before the arrival of INEC officials at Ife Central, as well as all reported cases of violence, particularly the incidents in Ejigbo and Modakeke.

The organisation urged authorities to strengthen enforcement against campaign activities, vote solicitation and vote buying around polling units.

It urged INEC to maintain clear and timely communication whenever polling is delayed, suspended or disrupted, warning that voters should not be left dependent on rumours and unverified information.

The CDD-EAC also urged political parties and candidates to direct their supporters to refrain from violence, voter intimidation, inducement and interference with electoral officials as the process moves towards collation.

The organisation commended the estimated 2.3 million Osun voters who turned out to exercise their democratic rights peacefully, as well as INEC officials and security personnel who facilitated voting across thousands of polling units.