SERAP urges joint probe of vote buying and violence in Osun election
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to jointly investigate alleged vote buying, inducement, and violence during the election. SERAP made this demand in a petition dated August 15, 2026, signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare. The organisation highlighted numerous electoral offences and urged the agencies to invite regional and international bodies for independent scrutiny. SERAP also called for transparency and prosecution where credible evidence is found.
What we know
- SERAP submitted a petition dated August 15, 2026, urging INEC, EFCC, and ICPC to investigate vote buying, inducement, and violence during the election.
- Preliminary reports recorded 323 electoral offences and irregularities across 726 polling units as of noon on election day.
- The offences included vote trading, inducement of officials, voter obstruction, campaigning at polling units, voter impersonation, multiple voting, misconduct by election officials, and exposure of ballot papers.
- SERAP urged the agencies to trace the sources of funds used for vote buying and to preserve and examine banking, mobile-money, and other digital evidence.
- The group referenced the Electoral Act 2026 and the 1999 Constitution, calling for the publication of investigation findings and prosecution of those involved in electoral offences.
