The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has urged media practitioners in Osun State to make vote buying a top investigative priority ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election, calling on journalists to document incidents in sufficient detail to support the prosecution of offenders.
The call was made by the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, in a keynote address delivered at a one-day Media Stakeholders’ Forum held on Tuesday in Osogbo.
The address was presented on his behalf by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola.
Haruna described vote buying as the most disturbing development recorded during the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election.
He noted that political actors and their agents allegedly offered cash to voters at polling units, with some using numbered vouchers redeemable outside polling centres to avoid detection.
He cited Section 22 of the Electoral Act 2026, which prescribes a minimum fine of ₦5 million, up to two years’ imprisonment, or both, as well as a 10-year ban from contesting public office for anyone convicted of vote trading.
The National Commissioner urged media organisations to dedicate resources to investigating vote buying before, during and after the election. He also encouraged reporters to capture names, locations, amounts exchanged and the structure of the networks involved, noting that such reports would support enforcement efforts by INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services (DSS).
Haruna disclosed that INEC had concluded key preparations for the Osun governorship election, including the clearance of candidates from 14 political parties and the registration of 381,817 new voters during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
He added that the Commission would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) across all 30 local government areas of the State.
According to him, the technologies performed strongly during the Ekiti election, with BVAS recording a 96 per cent functionality rate and IReV achieving a 98 per cent result upload completion rate.
The INEC National Commissioner also expressed concern over declining voter turnout across the country, noting that fewer than four in every 10 registered voters participated in the Ekiti governorship election. He urged the media to intensify voter mobilisation efforts while continuing public enlightenment on the dangers of vote buying and the importance of verifying election results through the IReV portal.
In her welcome address, the Osun Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the media as a vital partner in promoting democratic values through objective reporting and public education. She called for sustained collaboration to ensure a peaceful, credible and transparent election.
Also speaking, INEC Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, represented by the Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said the forum was organised to strengthen the Commission’s relationship with media practitioners, provide updates on preparations for the election and clarify INEC’s processes under the Electoral Act 2026.
In a goodwill message, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, pledged the support of journalists in combating vote trading and mobilising voters. He expressed optimism that the August 15 governorship election would record better outcomes than the recent Ekiti poll.
The Osun State governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with 14 political parties, including the ruling party, fielding candidates.
