EU Election Monitoring Group Reveals 323 Cases Of Electoral Offences During Osun Gov. Election

By Ayodele Oni

As results of the Osun governorship election are being awaited, the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has reported 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities in 726 polling units observed during Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.

The Hub, in its preliminary election-day statement issued Saturday, said the reported offences included 103 cases of vote trading, 12 cases of multiple voting, 28 cases involving the alleged inducement of polling and security officials, 38 cases of campaigning at polling units and 14 cases of voter impersonation.

Other reported irregularities were seven cases of misconduct by election officials, 31 cases of obstruction of voters and 85 cases involving exposure of ballot papers.

The observation group also recorded 38 security incidents as of noon, comprising 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and nine cases of voter intimidation allegedly involving security personnel.

The EU-SDGN EOH revealed tbat it deployed 823 accredited observers across the 30 local government areas of Osun State to monitor the election.

According to the group, voting was generally peaceful and orderly, with impressive voter turnout and effective crowd-control measures by election officials and security personnel in most of the polling units observed.

On the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), the observers reported that 58, representing 7.9 per cent, of the 726 devices observed malfunctioned.

It added, however, that 41 of the 58 affected devices, representing 70.7 per cent, were subsequently rectified and accreditation resumed.

The Hub urged INEC to ensure that Form EC8A is pasted at every polling unit at the end of voting and that the result is immediately uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.

The EU-SDGN EOH reported that election materials, including ballot papers, result sheets, BVAS devices, voting cubicles, registers of voters, official stamps and ink pads, were available between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. in 608, representing 83.7 per cent, of the observed polling units.

“Polling officials arrived between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. in 75 polling units, representing 10.3 per cent, while officials arrived between 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. in 42 polling units, representing 5.7 per cent.

“One polling unit had not opened as of 11:00 a.m. because election personnel and materials had not arrived.”

On security, the observers reported an average deployment of three security personnel per polling unit and said most security personnel conducted themselves professionally.

However, cases of alleged voter intimidation by security agents were reported at PU 29-10-10-005 at Igbon District Community 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.

The Hub urged security agencies to maintain professionalism and neutrality, while keeping a visible but restrained presence at polling units and collation centres.

The election observation group revealed that the voting process was largely inclusive, with noticeable participation by women and persons with disabilities.

It estimated women’s turnout at about 59 per cent in the polling units observed, while more than 70 per cent of persons with disabilities turned up to vote in the 12 designated PWD polling units observed.

Women also constituted 36 per cent of polling officials and played significant roles as party agents.

“The election environment was generally conducive for journalists and election observers, the group said, adding that no major incident involving denial of access to polling units had been reported as of the time of its statement.”

It called on parties to challenge grievances through the appropriate tribunals and courts rather than resorting to protests or self-help.

It advised candidates to await the official outcome and pursue grievances exclusively through lawful and judicial channels, in line with the Peace Accord signed on July 30, 2026.

It described the Osun governorship election as a critical test of Nigeria’s new electoral legal framework and a potential bellwether for the 2027 general elections.