Osun 2026: INEC Raises Alarm Over Vote Buying, Tasks Media to Name and Shame Electoral Offenders

With less than two months to the Osun State Governorship Election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has enlisted the media in a renewed offensive against vote buying, urging journalists to investigate, expose and provide evidence that will lead to the prosecution of electoral offenders.

The Commission warned that vote buying remains one of the biggest threats to free and credible elections, revealing that political actors adopted sophisticated methods, including the use of numbered vouchers, to induce voters during the recent Ekiti State Governorship Election.

The charge was delivered on Tuesday at a Media Stakeholders’ Forum in Osogbo by INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, whose speech was presented by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola.

Haruna called on media organisations to make vote buying a major investigative assignment before, during and after the August 15 governorship poll, stressing that journalists should gather credible evidence capable of securing convictions.

He said reporters should document the identities of suspects, locations, financial inducements and other details that could assist security agencies in dismantling vote-buying networks.

According to him, anyone convicted under the Electoral Act 2026 faces a minimum fine of ₦5 million, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, as well as a 10-year disqualification from contesting elective office.

Haruna said evidence generated through investigative journalism would strengthen the work of the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other agencies responsible for enforcing electoral laws.

The INEC commissioner also announced that preparations for the Osun governorship election had been substantially completed.

He disclosed that 14 political parties had been cleared to participate, while 381,817 new voters were added to the state’s register during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise.

Haruna said the Commission would deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV) across all local government areas to enhance transparency.

He noted that during the Ekiti governorship election, BVAS recorded a 96 per cent success rate, while IReV achieved 98 per cent result uploads, expressing optimism that the Osun election would record even better performance.

He, however, expressed concern over declining voter participation, noting that fewer than four out of every 10 registered voters turned out for the Ekiti governorship election.

Haruna urged journalists to complement INEC’s efforts by educating voters, promoting peaceful participation and discouraging the monetisation of the electoral process.

Earlier, Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, described the media as an indispensable partner in ensuring transparent and credible elections through factual reporting and voter enlightenment.

Also speaking, INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs. Victoria Eta-Messi, represented by Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Mr. Wilfred Ifogah, said the forum was organised to strengthen collaboration with journalists and update them on the Commission’s readiness for the election under the Electoral Act 2026.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Osun State Council, Comrade Adeyemi Aboderin, assured the Commission that journalists in the state would support efforts to expose vote buying and encourage eligible voters to participate in the August 15 poll.

The Osun governorship election is scheduled for August 15, 2026, with 14 political parties expected to contest.