Ekiti 2026: How Widespread Vote-Buying, Irregularities Helped APC’s Victory
•ADC Candidate, Driver Attacked At Polling Unit
•PDP,
•My
TAccord Candidates Condemn Discrepancies, Reject Results
Re-election, A Call To Service – Gov Oyebanji
Our Reporter
HE re-elec on of Eki State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, in Saturday’s governorship elec on has come under intense scru ny following widespread allega ons of vote-buying, voter in mida on, electoral irregulari es and pockets of violence, with domes c and interna onal observers warning that the credibility of the poll was significantly undermined despite improvements in logis cs and elec on administraon.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that observer groups, including the European Union-backed Support to Democra c Governance in Nigeria Elec on Observa on Hub, Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Ini a ve, the Centre for Democracy and Development, the Balm in Gilead Founda on and the Centre for Journalism Innova on and Development, said organised voter inducement and other electoral offences were recorded across several local government areas, cas ng a shadow over the landslide victory secured by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The Independent Naonal Electoral Commission (INEC) had, in the early hours of Sunday, declared Oyebanji winner of the elec on a er polling 319,224 votes to defeat his closest rival and Peoples Democra c Party candidate, Wole Oluyede, who secured 40,543 votes.
•An image showing party agents using numbered slips instead of cash for vote buying during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State Credits: Premium Times
The African Democra c Congress candidate, Dare Bejide, came third with 12,872 votes.
The APC candidate swept all 16 local government areas of the state, becoming the first Eki governor since 1999 to secure immediate re-elecon in a state long known for vo ng out incumbents.
However, reports from elec on monitors and media organisa ons indicated that vote-buying emerged as the defining feature of the elec on, with observers documen ng at least 24 incidents of vote-buying, voter in mida on and electoral offences across nine local government ar-
eas. According to findings released by the EU-SDGN Elec on Observa on Hub, the incidents were concentrated mainly in Ado-Eki and Irepodun/Ifelodun local government areas, where party agents allegedly induced voters with cash and compelled some to display marked ballot papers before receiving payment.
The observer coali on, which deployed nearly 600 observers across the state, noted that while elec on materials arrived on me and vo ng was generally peaceful, organised voter inducement severely compromised the integrity of
the process.
The CJID observer network similarly reported mul ple vote-buying methods, including the distribu on of food items and drinks to voters, the issuance of tally slips redeemable for cash a er vo ng, and direct cash payments running into thousands of naira.
In Gbonyin Local Government Area, observers reported that party agents distributed N10,000 to voters at secluded loca ons a er verifying their idenes, while reports from Emure, Ido-Osi, Ikole and Ado-Eki indicated similar pa erns of inducement.
•ADC Candidate, Driv-
er
A acked At Polling Unit
The elec on was also marred by allega ons of violence and in mida on involving opposi on candidates.
One of the most drama c incidents occurred at Polling Unit 04, Oke Adura, Ward 2, Ilawe-Eki , where ADC governorship candidate, Bejide, accused APC opera ves of a vote buying a empt. The situa on degenerated into a confrontaon that lasted about two hours.
Bejide alleged that after he reported the alleged vote-buying to security personnel, a local govern-
ment chairman and a presiden al aide iden fied as Makinde Araoye arrived at the scene alongside individuals he described as fake police officers.
The ADC candidate claimed he was physically assaulted while his driver was beaten unconscious and later hospitalised a er a emp ng to shield him.
The clash reportedly le at least one ADC supporter injured before addi onal security personnel restored order.
Speaking a er the incident, Bejide accused APC chie ains of commercialising the electoral process and using in mida on to suppress opposi on voices.
His son, Olumide Bejide, also alleged that large sums of money were deployed across polling units in Ilawe-Eki to influence voters.
But an APC chie ain, Makinde Araoye, dismissed the allega ons, insis ng that the elec on remained peaceful across the state.
The Eki State Commissioner of Police, Abayomi Shogunle, also downplayed the incident, describing it as typical of a highly compe ve elec on and sta ng that no formal complaint of vote-buying had been officially lodged before his command.
Beyond the Bejide incident, elec on observers reported isolated violence in Ikole, Oye and Ilejemeje local government areas.
A police sta on in IsanEki was set ablaze on the eve of the elec on, while suspected hoodlums in Iyin-Eki a acked operaves of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission inves ga ng votebuying allega ons.
Two journalists covering the incident, one from the News Agency of Nigeria and another from The Na on newspaper, reportedly sustained injuries while fleeing from the at-
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2026
Osun LG Crisis: Anxiety, Fear As APC, PDP May Clash Over Resumption
RESIDENTS of Osun State are gripped by anxiety and fear as Peoples Democra c Party (PDP) elected chairmen and councillors move to resume fully at local government secretariats today (Monday).
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the planned resump on could set them on a collision course with All Progressives Congress officials who insist they remain in charge of the councils.
It would be recalled that some PDP council officials elected on February 22, 2025, resumed at the secretariat last Friday.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that PDP chairmen in Ede North, Ede South, Ifelodun, Ila, Iwo, Boripe and a few other councils resumed on Friday with Mr Oladele Bamiji, the Deputy Spokesperson to the Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, confirming their resump on.
Bamiji also confirmed that the PDP-elected local government chairmen in the state will resume their du es fully on Monday despite resistance at some council secretariats on Friday.
The resump on of the PDP chairmen followed the ruling of the Federal High Court in Osogbo, dismissing the APC suit seeking clarifica on on the end of tenure for the 2022 chairmen elected under the All Progressives Congress.
Speaking on the development, Bamiji said, “The PDP elected chairmen will resume fully next Monday by the grace of God, and they will all be there to perform their duty for which they were elected.
“The PDP will not be obeying the law if the chairman refuses to resume work as ordered by the Federal High Court.”
He insisted the PDP chairmen remain the legally recognised administrators in the state following the Federal High Court judgment.
But the APC local government chairmen and leaders of the party in the state accused the state government of deliberately ins ga ng crises over the control of local councils in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, Barrister Adegoke Ogunsola, who spoke on behalf of the party, alleged that the state govern-
recently state government and its supporters.
ment misinterpreted the judgment of the Federal High Court, Osogbo, in a manner capable of causing public disorder.
Ogunsola said the suit, filed by the APC chairmen and councillors on September 12, 2025, sought judicial interpreta on of the commencement date of their tenure in office under relevant Osun State laws and noted that the court dismissed the case on June 15, 2026.
According to him, “the dismissal of the suit did not amount to valida on of the local government elec ons allegedly conducted on February 22, 2025, as being claimed by the
“Sequel to the dismissal, the Osun State Government and its henchmen stormed the streets and began to foment avoidable crises by ascribing the dismissal of the suit to valida on of the ruse being paraded as the outcome of local government elecons purportedly held on February 22, 2025.”
Ogunsola disclosed that the Federal High Court judgment had already been appealed and that an applica on for stay of execu on was filed on June 16, 2026, and served on all par es involved, including the police.
“To set the record straight, the judgment of the FHC that they want to u lise to enthrone themselves is the subject of an appeal, with an applica on for stay of execu on dated and filed on June 16, 2026, and which has been served on the par es,” he stated.
Ogunsola also cited a por on of the court judgment which, according to him, affirmed that the tenure of the elected chairmen and councillors ran from October 2022 to October 2025.
Quo ng from the ruling, Ogunsola said, “No ma er the interrup ons or interjec ons in the tenure of the elected
public officer a er subscrip on to the oath of office and oath of allegiance, the expira on date of the said tenure remains the same as per the Cons tu on or the statute.”
He argued that the court’s pronouncement implied that the local government elecons and subsequent swearing-in ceremony conducted by the state government in February 2025 were null and void, adding that the ma er had already been placed before the Court of Appeal.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command has warned poli cians and their supporters against any act capable of disrup ng public peace.
Police spokesman in the state, Abiodun Ojelabi, in a statement, said the command was closely monitoring developments and cauoned against forceful occupa on of council secretariats.
“The command will not hesitate to take decisive ac on against any individual or group that a empts to disrupt the peace or violate the law. All par es concerned have been duly advised,” Ojelabi warned.
OSUN DEFENDER gathered that residents fear a repeat of the February 17, 2025 violence that le several people dead, including the former Chairman of Irewole Local Government, Remi Abass.
Abass was killed by
Ekiti 2026: How Widespread Vote-Buying...
•Continued from page 1
tackers.
•Concerns Over ‘Thumprinted’ Ballot Papers
Observers also raised concerns about discrepancies in electoral materials.
The Movement for Credible Elec ons called for a forensic inves gaon into allega ons of pre-thumbprinted ballot papers and reports that uncollected Permanent Voter Cards were distributed to individuals other than their owners.
The group further demanded a joint briefing involving INEC, the police, the Department of State Services and the EFCC to address the allega ons.
The Balm in Gilead Founda on similarly reported cases of vote-trading and BVAS accredita on failures in some polling units.
•PDP, Accord Candidates Condemn Acts, Re-
ject Results
Reac ng to the outcome, opposi on par es rejected the elec on results and blamed widespread inducement for the APC victory.
The Accord Party candidate, Opeyemi Falegan, condemned what he described as the mone sa on of the democra c process, saying he personally witnessed voter inducement at his polling unit.
The ADC candidate also maintained that the elecon was compromised by vote-buying and in midaon, insis ng that the level of cash deployment witnessed during the exercise distorted the will of the electorate.
The PDP candidate, Oluyede, likewise alleged voter in mida on in parts of Ikere-Eki and accused the ruling party of exploiting state power and financial resources to influence voters.
The African Ac on Congress in Eki State formally rejected the result and vowed to challenge the outcome in court, alleging that vote-buying occurred across virtually all local government areas of the state.
Despite the cri cisms, observers acknowledged improvements in elec on logis cs and administraon.
•PDP, Accord Candidates Condemn Acts, Reject Results
Speaking a er his victory, Oyebanji dismissed allega ons that vote-buying and in mida on influenced the outcome of the elec on.
The governor challenged his opponents and cri cs to provide concrete evidence to support their claims.
He described his reelec on as a renewed mandate from the people of Eki and pledged to
con nue delivering on his administra on’s development agenda.
“This victory is not about me. It is a call to greater service and a renewed responsibility to the people of Eki State who have entrusted us with another mandate,” Oyebanji said.
“I am grateful to the people for their confidence in our administra on and for their commitment to peace throughout the electoral process.”
“Those making allegaons of vote-buying or inmida on should provide evidence. Elec ons are won through the support of the people and not through mere accusa ons.”
“We will remain focused on governance, development and the welfare of our people. The mandate given to us today is one we shall honour with humility, diligence and accountability.”
hoodlums at the entrance of the Irewole council secretariat in Ikire when APC and PDP supporters clashed over control of the council.
Police said six people were killed and many others were hospitalised in the statewide clashes that day.
Amid the rising tension, a Civil Society group, Centre for Social Jus ce and Public Protec on, has called on both APC and PDP to sheathe their swords and avoid plunging Osun into another crisis.
The coordinator of the group, Mr Akin Akanji, while speaking with OSUN DEFENDER yesterday said, “What Osun needs now is peace, not another round of bloodshed at our council secretariats. Both par es must respect the rule of law and allow the courts to se le this ma er finally.
“The lives of ordinary ci zens who only want to go about their lawful business must not be sacrificed on the altar of poli cal supremacy. We urge APC and PDP leaders to cau on their supporters and embrace dialogue instead of confronta on,” he noted.
Mrs Romoke Adeoye, a trader at Oja-Oba Market in Osogbo, said the memories of February 2025 violence s ll haunts her, urging poli cal pares and their supporters to exercise restraint and not plunge the state into another crisis.
“We are s ll remembering what happened in February last year when people were killed. Government and poli cians should remember that the poor people are the ones who suffer when they fight.
“I beg APC and PDP to allow peace to reign so our children can go to school, and we can sell our goods without fear. If they have court judgments, let the law take its course instead of using force at the secretariats. Osun people need peace more than poli cal power,” Adeoye stated.
Another resident, Mr Lawal Raji, a commercial motorcyclist in Ile-Ife said, “Nobody should bring violence again. We don’t want bloodshed in Osun. Poli cians should se le their differences in court and leave ordinary people alone. We are red of fear and tension every me. Let there be understanding so we can all move forward.”
•Osun ADC Governorship Candidate, Dr. Najeem Salaam, alongside his deputy, Mrs Yemisi Agiri, flanked by other party’s leaders at the ongoing local government campaign tour of the party,
THE Eki State governorship elec on may be over, save for any li ga on that may follow, but its implica ons deserve serious reflec on. Beyond the declara on of a winner and the celebra on or disappointment that accompanies electoral contests, the elec on has once again exposed troubling reali es about Nigeria’s democra c process.
As the na on prepares for cri cal general elecons in the months ahead, a en on must be focused not merely on the outcome in Eki but on the warning signs that emerged during the exercise. Foremost among these is the persistence of vote buying, which many observers iden fied as one of the defining features of the elec on.
Vote buying has become one of the greatest threats to electoral integrity in Nigeria. It undermines the principle that ci zens should freely choose their leaders based on competence, vision and performance. Instead, elec ons risk becoming auc ons in which votes are exchanged for cash and temporary material benefits. The danger is that when votes become commodi es, governance itself becomes transac onal, with elected officials feeling accountable not to the electorate but to the poli cal machinery that secured their victory.
Sadly, li le can be done in a ma er of months to fundamentally alter a poli cal economy built on the weaponisa on of poverty. Millions of Nigerians con nue to struggle under severe economic hardship, making them vulnerable to inducements during elec ons. Addressing this challenge requires more than electoral regula ons; it demands far-reaching cons tu onal,
“Furthermore,
Vote Buying: The Shape Of Things To Come?
economic and ins tu onal reforms aimed at reducing poverty, expanding opportuni es and strengthening democra c culture.
Equally disturbing is the apparent weakness of instu ons that ought to serve as safeguards against electoral malprac ce. While civil society organisa ons and sec ons of the media rose to the occasion by documenting and exposing irregularies, many of the agencies expected to enforce electoral laws appeared either overwhelmed or unwilling to act decisively. Reports of in mida on and harassment of journalists a empting to expose wrongdoing further highlight the risks faced by those defending democra c accountability.
A democracy cannot thrive where those who expose electoral misconduct are vic mised while those
the long-standing proposal for an independent Electoral Offences Commission deserves renewed consideration. Without a credible mechanism for investigating and prosecuting offenders, electoral malpractice will continue to flourish and evolve”
who perpetrate it act with impunity. Such a situa on diminishes public confidence in elec ons and weakens the credibility of democra c ins tu ons. Nigeria cannot claim to be deepening democracy if electoral offences are rou nely commi ed without consequences.
The lesson from Eki is clear: stronger ins tu ons are urgently needed. Electoral offences must cease to be treated as minor infrac ons. There should be specialised units within security agencies dedicated exclusively to elec on monitoring, preven on and prosecu on of electoral crimes. Such units should
work closely with the Independent Na onal Electoral Commission, civil society organisa ons, domes c observer groups and accredited interna onal observers to ensure prompt intervenon whenever viola ons occur.
Furthermore, the longstanding proposal for an independent Electoral Offences Commission deserves renewed considera on. Without a credible mechanism for inves ga ng and prosecu ng offenders, electoral malprac ce will connue to flourish and evolve.
Poli cal par es also bear responsibility. The desperaon to win at all costs has steadily eroded the values of fair compe on and democra c engagement. Par es must recognise that a victory secured through inducement weakens the legi macy of both the electoral process and the eventual government.
Ul mately, elec ons are not merely domes c exercises; they are indicators of a na on’s democra c maturity and ins tu onal strength. They influence investor confidence, interna onal percep on and na onal cohesion. Countries that conduct credible elec ons send posive signals about stability, transparency and respect for the rule of law.
Unfortunately, the signals emerging from recent electoral contests in Nigeria remain troubling. Unless decisive ac on is taken, vote buying and other forms of electoral manipula on may become even more entrenched in future elec ons. The challenge before Nigeria is therefore not simply how to conduct elecons, but how to protect the sancty of the ballot and restore public faith in democracy.
Website : www.osundefender.com/index.php e-mail : osundefenderhq@gmail.com osundefenderbank@gmail.com All correspondence to the above email addresses.
The Eki elecon should serve as a wake-up call. Whether the naon heeds that warning may well determine the quality of its democracy in the years ahead.
MONDAY, JUNE 22, 2026 VOL. 21 NO 48 www.osundefender.com, email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com
PRODUCTIVITY in the civil service remains a cri cal factor in driving na onal development, effec ve governance, and improved public service delivery. As the engine room of government, the civil service plays a vital role in policy implementa on, service provision, and administra ve connuity.
Produc vity in the civil service refers to the ability of public ins tu ons and employees to deliver quality services efficiently, transparently, and mely manner, using available human, financial, and material resources. Unlike the private sector, where produc vity is o en measured by profit, public sector produc vity is assessed through service outcomes, ci zen sa sfacon, policy impact and instu onal effec veness.
However, challenges such as bureaucra c bo lenecks, inadequate skills, poor mova on, and outdated work systems have con nued to affect efficiency in many public ins tu ons. Experts say addressing these issues is key to building a produc ve and responsive civil service.
In an interview with the
“A conducive work environment directly influences productivity. Adequate office infrastructure, reliable power supply, functional equipment, and safe working conditions enable civil servants to perform their duties effectively.Equally, employee welfare, including timely payment of salaries, pensions, and allowances, plays a critical role in boosting morale and commitment”
PERSPECTIVE
BY
BY OLUFUNMILAYO ADEBOMI OJO, PHD
The Discourse: Boosting Productivity In
The Civil Service: Pathways To A More Efficient Workplace
Chairman of Nigeria Labour Congress, Osun State, Comrade Christopher Arapasopo, he iden fied con nuous training and capacity building as one of the most effecve ways to improve producvity in the civil service.
A produc ve civil service begins with a competent and mo vated workforce. Con nuous training and capacity-building programmes are crucial to equipping civil servants with modern skills in policy analysis, data management, digital tools, project implementa on, and customer service.
“Regular in-service training, leadership development programmes, and exposure to global best prac ces help civil servants adapt to evolving governance demands. Equally important is aligning training programmes with ins tu onal needs rather than trea ng them as rou ne or ceremonial exercises.”
No doubt, an effec ve performance management system is central to producvity enhancement. Clear job descrip ons, measurable performance indicators, and regular appraisal systems help ensure that civil servants understand expectaons and are held accountable for results.
Performance-based promo ons, rewards, and sancons encourage diligence and innova on while discouraging complacency. Strengthening accountabil-
ity mechanisms, including internal audits, service charters, and ci zen feedback systems, also reinforces discipline and service delivery standards.
Another factor is the adopon of digital technologies which has proven to be a powerful driver of efficiency in the public sector. E-governance pla orms, electronic file management systems, online service portals, and data-driven decision-making tools significantly reduce delays, paperwork, and opportuni es for corrup on.
Automa ng rou ne administra ve processes allows civil servants to focus on higher-value tasks such as policy development and problemsolving. Digital transformaon also improves transparency and enhances ci zens’ trust in public ins tu ons.
A conducive work environment directly influences produc vity. Adequate office infrastructure, reliable power supply, func onal equipment, and safe working condi ons enable civil servants to perform their du es effec vely. Equally, employee welfare, including mely payment of salaries, pensions, and allowances, plays a cri cal role in boos ng morale and commitment. Access to healthcare, housing schemes, and worklife balance ini a ves further enhances job sa sfac on and reduces absenteeism. Leadership quality signifi-
cantly shapes organisa onal produc vity.
Ethical, visionary, and results-oriented leadership fosters a culture of professionalism, integrity, and service excellence within the civil service. Leaders must model discipline, fairness, and transparency while encouraging teamwork and innova on. Strengthening ethical standards through codes of conduct, an -corrup on measures, and whistleblower protec ons helps build public trust and ins tu onal credibility.
Frequent policy reversals and weak ins tu onal frameworks o en undermine civil service produc vity. Consistency in reforms, clear mandates, and strong coordina on among ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) are essen al for efficiency. Civil service reforms should focus on simplifying procedures, reducing duplica on of roles, and strengthening inter-agency collabora on.
Ins tu onalising reforms ensures con nuity beyond changes in poli cal leadership. Boos ng produc vity in the civil service is a mulfaceted process that requires sustained commitment, strategic reforms, and collec ve responsibility. By inves ng in human capacity, strengthening performance management, embracing digital innova on, improving welfare, and fostering ethical leadership, governments can build a more efficient, responsive, and ci zen-centred civil service.
Ul mately, a produc ve civil service is fundamental to good governance, na onal development, and the delivery of tangible benefits to ci zens.
The path to efficiency may be challenging, but the rewards, in improved public trust, service quality, and socio-economic progress are invaluable.
•Olufunmilayo Adebomi Ojo holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mass Communication and she’s a practicing Journalist, Member of ASPCN, NIPR, NUJ and NAWOJ
OSUN DEFENDER is published by Moremi Publishing House Limited, Behind Oranmiyan Building, Gbodofon, Off Gbongan Road, Osogbo, Osun State. All correspondence to the Deputy Editor, MICHAEL BAMIGBOLA, Telephone: 0809-301-9152. ISSN: 0794-8050. Website: www.osundefender.com Email: osundefenderbank@gmail.com, osundefenderhq@gmail.com