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Nigeria election observers call for prosecution of vote traders
A coalition of election observation organisations under the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub has called for the prosecution of vote buyers, political party agents, and financiers. The call follows findings from a report examining recent governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states.
Observers reported that organized vote trading has become a significant threat to electoral integrity. In Ekiti, party agents were implicated in approximately 90 per cent of 84 verified vote-trading incidents. In Osun, vote trading was observed in 69 per cent of the monitored polling units. The report noted that voters were often required to show their marked ballots to party agents to receive payments ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 naira.
Prof. Bolade Eyinla, a former adviser to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, warned that these practices, along with weak enforcement and inadequate transparency, threaten the credibility of the upcoming 2027 general elections. The coalition highlighted a lack of legal consequences, noting they were unaware of any arrests or investigations related to the documented misconduct, and urged authorities to strengthen enforcement of electoral laws.
Entities
Bolade Eyinla · Ekiti State · European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria · Independent National Electoral Commission · Osun State
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Vote trading was observed in 69 per cent of monitored polling units in Osun state. nannews.ng · realnewsmagazine.net · thesudantimes.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] In Ekiti, party agents were identified as the main actors in approximately 90 per cent of 84 verified vote-trading incidents. nannews.ng · realnewsmagazine.net · thesudantimes.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] A coalition of election observation organisations has called for the arrest and prosecution of vote buyers, political party agents and financiers involved in electoral offences. nannews.ng · realnewsmagazine.net · thesudantimes.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Voters were reportedly required to display marked ballots to party agents to receive payments between 10,000 and 50,000 naira. nannews.ng · realnewsmagazine.net · thesudantimes.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] Vote buying, exposure of marked ballots, weak enforcement, and inadequate transparency threaten electoral credibility. nannews.ng · realnewsmagazine.net · thesudantimes.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Observers reported an absence of arrests, investigations, or prosecutions related to the documented electoral misconduct. thesudantimes.com