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.

By Ayodele Oni

Voting commenced early in the ongoing Osun state governorship election, with voters trooping out early to perform their civic duties.

However Accord Party has alleged that some security agencies deployed for the Osun State governorship election are intimidating and arresting its members and supporters, raising concerns over the credibility and peaceful conduct of the poll.

This allegation is coming just as the state police command confirmed the arrest of an Accord Party lawmaker, Abiola Ibrahim and 146 suspected mercenaries.

Confirming the arrest on Saturday, the spokesman of the Osun State Command, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said police operatives from the Federal Bureau of Investigation-Intelligence Response Team carried out the arrest.

The lawmakerwho represents Irewole/Isokan State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly,  was said to have allegedly imported the 146 merceneries to the state.

“He was arrested in Ikire for harbouring suspected mercenaries. He was arrested with about 146 people.

“FBI-IRT arrested him. He is in their custody. He was arrested in the early hours of Saturday,” the police spokesman stated.

Footage of the interception showed uniformed police officers interrogating Ibrahim at his residence regarding the presence of the suspected mercenaries.

The lawmaker, when asked in the video, maintained that the individuals gathered were registered voters present to participate in the election.

“They are voters for the election happening today. Some of them are indigenes from outside. I did not hire them. I did not promise anything. Voting is their choice. I’m not their agent,” Ibrahim said.

Accord party’s spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, made the allegation on Saturday shortly after casting his vote at Ward 3, Unit 4, Ijebu-Jesha, in Ori-Ade Local Government Area of the state

Olajengbesi alleged that some military personnel had, since the early hours of Saturday, embarked on arrests across parts of the state, including the detention of individuals associated with the political process.

The Spokesman said the allegations were particularly disturbing because of the respect traditionally accorded the Nigerian military, stressing that the circumstances surrounding the alleged arrests had led the party to suspect that some security personnel might have been compromised.

“The military is an institution that is respected all over the world and the Nigerian military has a lot of respect here. So, we suspect that they must have been compromised somewhere or that something is wrong somewhere.

“We are glad that the election is now ongoing and people are voting. This is my own ward, my unit and my local government, and it has been peaceful so far.

“The security officers have conducted themselves in a very good manner. We are only praying that this process should continue,” he added.

He also disclosed that the party has received reports of an alleged plan to invade certain areas during the voting process, prompting it to alert its members to remain vigilant and protect their polling locations without resorting to violence.

According to him, the Accord Party remained committed to ensuring that voters were allowed to exercise their constitutional rights freely and peacefully.