SERAP Demands Probe of Osun Poll, Seeks EFCC, ICPC Action Over Vote-Buying, Electoral Violence

• SERAP urges INEC, EFCC and ICPC to launch a joint probe into alleged vote-buying, voter intimidation, violence and illegal election financing during the Osun governorship election.

• Rights group calls for AU, ECOWAS, African Commission and UN scrutiny, saying independent oversight is vital to strengthening transparency and public confidence.

• SERAP cites reports of 323 electoral offences, including vote trading, voter obstruction, multiple voting and attacks on election officials, demanding prosecution of all offenders.

• Organisation warns that accountability for the Osun poll will shape public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.

August 16, () — The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for a sweeping investigation into alleged vote-buying, electoral violence, voter intimidation and illegal campaign financing during the Osun State governorship election.

It urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to jointly uncover and prosecute all those responsible for any proven electoral offences.

The organisation also demanded that the investigation be subjected to independent regional and international scrutiny, calling on the African Union (AU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and relevant United Nations human rights mechanisms to monitor the accountability process.

SERAP’s position was contained in a petition dated August 15, 2026, and signed by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare.

The petition urged the three agencies “to urgently, jointly and transparently investigate reported cases of vote-buying, financial inducement, illegal election financing, voter intimidation, violence, misuse of public resources and other electoral offences in connection with the 2026 Osun State governorship election.”

SERAP argued that the legitimacy of the governorship election cannot be divorced from the ability of voters to exercise their democratic rights without coercion or inducement.

It stated, “The legitimacy and credibility of the Osun State election result ultimately depend upon whether voters were genuinely able to freely exercise their right to participation and political choice.

Where voters are allegedly induced with money or other benefits, threatened with violence, intimidated, obstructed or otherwise coerced, serious questions arise as to whether the Osun election reflected the free and genuine will of the electorate.”

SERAP maintained that unless the allegations were independently investigated, public confidence in both the election and Nigeria’s democratic institutions could be significantly undermined.

Beyond investigating electoral offences, SERAP called on the anti-graft agencies to unravel the financial architecture behind the alleged vote-buying scheme.

Specifically, the organisation urged investigators “to trace the sources and movement of funds allegedly deployed for vote-buying or other unlawful electoral purposes and identify those who provided, authorised, distributed, financed or facilitated the alleged conduct.”

It also demanded the preservation of crucial evidence, including banking records, mobile money transactions, telecommunications data, CCTV footage, polling-unit records, video recordings and other documentary and digital materials capable of establishing criminal responsibility.

SERAP further urged the agencies “to investigate, promptly arrest and, where appropriate, prosecute persons reasonably suspected of electoral, corruption or other criminal offences, including those who financed or facilitated the alleged conduct.”

According to the organisation, a coordinated investigation by INEC, EFCC and ICPC would ensure that every aspect of the allegations—electoral, financial and criminal—is thoroughly examined.

Calls For International Scrutiny

In one of its strongest recommendations, SERAP urged the agencies to invite external democratic institutions to independently assess the integrity of the election and subsequent investigations.

The organisation said “inviting appropriate regional and international mechanisms would provide complementary independent scrutiny, strengthen transparency and accountability, and help assess the wider implications of the reported violations for Nigeria’s human-rights and democratic obligations.”

It also insisted that the agencies should make their findings public and ensure that any relevant evidence is made available to election tribunals and other competent judicial bodies.

To support its demands, SERAP cited preliminary findings by the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH), which reportedly documented 323 electoral offences and irregularities across 726 polling units observed as of noon on election day.

According to the organisation, the documented incidents included: 103 cases of alleged vote trading; 28 cases involving inducement of polling and security officials; 31 cases of voter obstruction; 38 incidents of campaigning at polling units; 14 cases of voter impersonation; 12 cases of multiple voting; Seven cases of election-official misconduct; and 85 cases involving the exposure of marked ballot papers.

SERAP also noted that observers documented 38 security-related incidents, including alleged thuggery, attacks on election officials and voter intimidation.

The organisation further referenced reports by the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, which allegedly recorded vote-buying and inducements, including the reported distribution of jollof rice and drinks at a polling unit in Isokan Local Government Area, alongside allegations of harassment of election observers and disruption by political thugs.

Legal Grounds For Investigation

SERAP argued that the reported incidents, if established, could amount to violations of Sections 125, 131 and 132 of the Electoral Act 2026, which criminalise bribery, undue influence and the use or threat of violence to influence voters.

It also pointed to Sections 91 to 94 of the Electoral Act dealing with campaign finance, political donations, expenditure limits and disclosure requirements.

The organisation further cited Sections 138 and 139 of the Electoral Act, which allow election results to be challenged where corrupt practices or substantial non-compliance are established.

SERAP equally relied on provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, all of which guarantee citizens the right to participate freely in democratic elections without intimidation, coercion or manipulation.

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Warning Ahead Of 2027

SERAP warned that failure to hold perpetrators accountable could embolden future electoral offenders and erode public trust in democratic institutions.

According to the organisation, “These measures are important not only for accountability for the Osun election but also for preventing recurrence, deterring electoral corruption and violence, strengthening public confidence in INEC and other institutions, and safeguarding the integrity and credibility of the 2027 general elections.”

The organisation consequently urged INEC, EFCC and ICPC to immediately commence investigations, trace illicit financial flows connected to the election, preserve all relevant evidence, prosecute offenders where warranted and publish the outcome of their findings in the interest of transparency, accountability and the protection of Nigeria’s democracy.