The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) Election Observation Hub has raised concerns over widespread vote trading during the 2026 governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, revealing that some voters received as much as N50,000 in exchange for their votes.
The Hub said vote trading accounted for 77 per cent of 84 verified incidents of electoral irregularities documented during the two elections, with party agents identified as the main actors in at least 90 per cent of the cases.
Prof. Bolade Eyinla, who presented the findings at the report’s dissemination event in Abuja on Tuesday, warned that the growing practice threatened the sanctity of the ballot and voters’ freedom of choice.
“The scourge of vote trading is becoming a pandemic,” Eyinla said, adding that failure to address the practice could further undermine electoral integrity.
He lamented that vote trading had become increasingly organised and standardised, while the apparent absence of reported arrests, investigations and prosecutions had encouraged a sense of impunity among those involved.
“The data shows us that 77 per cent of the 84 verified incidents were vote trading, and party agents were the main actors in at least 90 per cent of these cases,” he said.
Eyinla disclosed that vote trading accounted for 69 per cent of the reported incidents in Osun, expressing concern that no arrests, investigations or prosecutions had been reported in connection with the scale of the practice during the elections.
Explaining how the scheme operated, he said some voters marked their ballot papers according to the demands of party agents and displayed them for verification before receiving payment.
“Once the agent confirms ‘he has done what we demanded’, payment follows,” he said.
Eyinla said the report from Osun showed that some voters received N50,000, a figure he described as raising questions about the volume of money potentially involved in influencing voters.
Observers Seek Publication of Ward-Level Results
The Election Observation Hub also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to publish election results at the ward level to improve transparency and help identify irregularities.
Eyinla argued that many electoral irregularities occurred at the ward level, making the publication of results from that stage important for strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.
He said INEC should upload ward-level results in the same way it publishes results from individual polling units.
“If you can upload polling units, then you should be able to upload ward-level results,” he said, citing the need for greater transparency ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Hub, however, commended INEC for conducting what it described as near-perfect elections, noting that voting commenced early and the official results were largely consistent with figures independently compiled by observers.
It also praised security agencies for helping to maintain a peaceful atmosphere during the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections.
Over 1,400 Observers Deployed
The Executive Director of the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), Dr. Akin Akingbulu, said the Election Observation Hub deployed 598 observers across all 16 local government areas in Ekiti State for the June 20 election.
He added that 823 observers were deployed across all 30 local government areas in Osun State for the August 15 election.
According to Akingbulu, the deployment involved more than 1,400 trained Nigerian observers who monitored voting, verified figures and documented electoral developments at polling units.
“That is more than 1,400 trained Nigerians who watched, counted, verified and reported, polling unit by polling unit, so that the conversation we have today rests on facts and not on sentiment,” he said.
The EU-SDGN Election Observation Hub comprises the Kukah Centre (TKC), TAF Africa, Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), Yiaga Africa, International Press Centre (IPC) and Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO).
The report’s findings have renewed calls for stronger enforcement of electoral laws, accountability for those involved in vote trading and greater transparency in the publication of election results as Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections.
