Osun Decides: EU Observers Report 103 Cases of Vote Trading, 323 Irregularities by Noon

By Joseph Sunday

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has reported 103 cases of vote trading and 323 electoral irregularities as of 12 noon in Saturday’s off-cycle governorship election in Osun State.

The Hub disclosed this in its preliminary Election Day statement issued at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026.

The statement is a joint assessment by the six organisations that make up the Hub which includes the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC), and the Yiaga Africa.

According to the Hub, it deployed 823 accredited observers across the 30 Local Government Areas of the state. The assessment, covering reports up to 12 noon, focused on the opening of polls, accreditation, voting, and the security environment.

The hub said it is using a triangulated methodology combining systematic, statistical and technology-driven tools to track election integrity, security, disability inclusion, gender participation, peacebuilding, misinformation, media access and journalists’ safety, and results validation.

The governorship election is being held in 3,763 polling units with 15 candidates from 15 political parties. Of the 2,339,233 registered voters, 1,906,390 (81.5%) collected their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and are eligible to vote.

Opening of Polls and BVAS Performance:

Of the 823 polling units observed, election officials and materials were present in 726.

In 608 of those units (83.7%), officials arrived with a full complement of sensitive and non-sensitive materials — including ballot papers, result sheets, BVAS machines, voting cubicles, voters’ register, stamps and ink pads — between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. 

Officials arrived between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. in 75 units (10.3%), and between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in 42 units (5.7%). One polling unit had yet to open as of 11:00 a.m. due to non-arrival of personnel and materials.

On the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), observers reported malfunctions in 58 devices (7.9%) out of the 726 units. However, 41 of the affected devices (70.7%) were fixed and accreditation resumed.

The Hub noted that voter turnout was impressive and the process was largely peaceful and orderly, with effective crowd control by officials and security personnel.

Security, Inclusion and Irregularities

An average of three security personnel was observed per polling unit. While most displayed professional conduct, the Hub cited cases of voter intimidation by security agents at PU 29-10-10-005 at Igbon D.C. School, 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.

On inclusion, women accounted for about 59% of turnout in observed polling units, while over 70% of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) turned out in the 12 designated PWD polling units monitored. Women constituted 36% of polling officials.

As of noon, observers recorded 38 security incidents, including 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials, and 9 cases of voter intimidation by security personnel.

Across the 726 polling units, 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities were reported, including vote trading (103), exposure of ballot papers (85), campaigning at polling units (38), obstruction of voters (31), inducement of polling and security officials (28), voter impersonation (14), multiple voting (12), and misconduct by election officials (7).

The environment was generally conducive for observers and journalists, with no major case of denied access reported. The Hub’s fact-checkers had detected and fact-checked about 11 false claims relating to alleged payment of INEC officials, police arrests, and underage voting.

The Hub said the preliminary statement follows its pre-election assessment report of July 27 and pre-election statement of August 14, 2026, and does not constitute a final assessment. A post-election report will be issued after voting, collation, and declaration of results.

It called on all parties and candidates to await the official outcome and to channel any grievances through lawful and judicial means in line with the Peace Accord signed on July 30, 2026, while urging voters to remain calm.

The Hub described the Osun election as a critical test of the new electoral legal framework and a bellwether for the 2027 general election.