Civil society organisations monitoring the Osun State governorship election have reported 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities across 726 polling units observed as of noon on Saturday.
Their review raised concerns over vote trading, ballot exposure, voter obstruction and other breaches of the electoral process.
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The organisations, operating under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH), also documented 38 security incidents, including 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and nine instances of voter intimidation allegedly involving security personnel.
The EU-SDGN EOH comprises Yiaga Africa, Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa and The Kukah Centre (TKC).
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The organisations deployed 823 accredited observers across the 30 local government areas of the state to monitor the election.
Presenting the group’s preliminary election day statement on Saturday, the Executive Director of the International Press Centre, Lanre Arogundade, said the findings were based on reports from stationary and roving observers deployed across the state.
According to the group, the 323 reported electoral offences and irregularities included 103 cases of vote trading, 12 cases of multiple voting, 28 cases of inducement of polling and security officials, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units, 14 cases of voter impersonation, seven cases of misconduct by election officials, 31 cases of obstruction of voters and 85 cases involving exposure of ballot papers.
The figures were recorded in 726 of the 823 polling units where the Hub had observers as of noon.
Vote trading accounted for the largest category of reported electoral offences, with 103 cases recorded by observers. This was followed by exposure of ballot papers, with 85 cases.
The observers also reported 31 cases where voters were allegedly obstructed from exercising their franchise, while campaigning at polling units accounted for 38 cases.
The Hub said the incidents were recorded alongside what it described as generally peaceful and orderly voting in most locations.
Security concerns
The observers also raised concerns over the conduct of some security personnel at polling units.
Despite an average of three security personnel being deployed to the polling units observed and most of them said to have acted professionally, the group reported cases of voter intimidation by security agents at three locations.
“Although most of the security personnel exhibited professional conduct over the course of voting, there were some reported cases of voter intimidation by security agents at PU 29-10-10-005 at Igbon DC. School in Ejigbo, PU 29-26-01-002 and PU 29-30-06-015 at an open space, opposite No 22, Oke Ola Street, Okanla Area, Osogbo,” Mr Arogundade said.
The Hub said the reported cases required attention because the presence of security agencies at polling units should provide protection for voters and election personnel rather than create fear or discourage participation.
It urged security agencies to maintain neutrality and professionalism, while keeping a visible but restrained presence at polling units and collation centres.
The organisations also called for heightened monitoring of areas assessed as critical risk, particularly during counting and collation, when disputes over results could heighten tensions.
Delays and BVAS failures
Beyond the irregularities, the observers also recorded delays in the deployment of election personnel and materials in some polling units.
The Hub said polling officials arrived with the complete complement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials in 726 of the 823 polling units observed.
Of these, 608 polling units, representing 83.7 per cent, had officials with the full complement of materials, including ballot papers, result sheets, Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices, voting cubicles, registers of voters, official stamps and ink pads, between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Another 75 polling units, representing 10.3 per cent, received officials between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., while officials arrived at 42 polling units, representing 5.7 per cent, between 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m.
One polling unit had yet to open as of 11 a.m. because election personnel and materials had not arrived.
The group also reported 58 BVAS devices malfunctioning, representing 7.9 per cent of the 726 polling units observed.
However, 41 of the affected devices, representing 70.7 per cent, were subsequently rectified, allowing accreditation to resume.
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The Hub urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deploy Registration Area Technical Support (RATECH) personnel and backup BVAS devices immediately to polling units where accreditation devices failed.
It also called on INEC to ensure that polling units that had not commenced voting were supplied with the necessary personnel and materials or, where necessary, have the election rescheduled in accordance with the law.
Women, persons with disabilities participate
Despite the reported irregularities, the observers said voter participation was largely inclusive, with noticeable participation by women and persons with disabilities (PwDs).
“The turnout of women is at about 59% in the observed polling units and more than 70% PwDs turned up to vote in the 12 designated PwD polling units observed. Furthermore, women constituted 36% of polling officials and played significant roles as polling agents,” Mr Arogundade said.
He described the participation as an indication of broad engagement with the electoral process, although they urged INEC to continue monitoring the availability of priority voting and assistive devices for elderly voters, pregnant women and PwDs.
Recommendations
The Hub urged the media to avoid announcing unofficial or projected results before INEC’s formal declaration at the appropriate polling and collation levels.
It also urged journalists to prioritise real-time fact-checking as results begin to emerge and to promptly report attacks or denial of access.
The organisations urged political parties and candidates to reject vote buying, intimidation and other forms of electoral malpractice and to channel any grievances through election petitions and the courts.
The group also reminded parties of the Peace Accord signed on 30 July and called on voters to remain calm as the process moves towards the final declaration.
The EU-SDGN EOH said it would publish a post-election report after the declaration of the results, providing a broader assessment of the conduct, credibility and outcome of the election.
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