Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
What was supposed to be a peaceful exercise of democratic rights in Ejigbo Local Government Area of Osun State quickly descended into chaos and outrage on Saturday, August 15, 2026, as aggrieved voters staged a loud protest over an alleged vote-buying scheme orchestrated by agents of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The explosive confrontation, captured in a video published by Channels Television, showed angry electors confronting individuals allegedly distributing cash to influence voters, with one vocal voter shouting: "They are sharing money over there, APC is sharing money over there." Another agitated bystander confirmed the monetary value being distributed, calling out: "It is N10,000. They are giving N10,000 over there."
The commotion escalated when community members intercepted a man holding a black nylon bag filled with cash intended for distribution. Displaying the bundle of cash to news crews and election observers on-scene, protesters demanded that security personnel and law enforcement intervene. One angry voter directly confronted onlookers and press crews, pointing toward the suspects while shouting: "Look at them! You need to go and call the law. Call law enforcement." Other voters joined in chorus, chanting against political agents attempting to influence the ballot: "They are sharing money. They came to buy votes."
The alleged vote-buying was not limited to a single incident. In a separate report by NPO Reports, a group of voters at Ejigbo Local Government Area seized a bundle of cash allegedly brought to a polling unit by APC agents. The aggrieved voters claimed they spotted the agents with bags filled with money. While being challenged, the agents reportedly fled the poll unit, leaving behind wads of Naira notes concealed in a black bag. A video shared on X showed the voters unsealing the bag in which the cash was found. Tucked inside the bag were pieces of paper bearing the APC logo. The voters claimed to have recovered the cash at Polling Units 7 and 13 in Ward 4, Ejigbo LGA. "We don't know the amount of money. They dropped it while running away," the voters said. They vowed to visit other polling units to challenge other vote-buying agents.
The protest in Ejigbo was not an isolated incident. Vote-buying emerged as one of the more prominent concerns from the field, with reports coming from different parts of Osun. In Ejigbo Local Government Area, voters reportedly raised concerns over the alleged distribution of money to influence voters. Some voters were said to have brought the matter to the attention of security personnel, but claimed the security operatives were reluctant to investigate the matter, generating agitation around the polling area.
A more detailed account was recorded by a Vanguard correspondent at AUD Primary School, Atile, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government Area, where agents of both the Accord Party and the All Progressives Congress were reportedly observed engaging in vote-buying. Party agents were stationed around the polling booths, allegedly monitoring voters and their ballot papers to establish whether they had voted for their respective candidates. After a voter cast his or her ballot, a party agent handed the voter a tag, which was reportedly to be presented at another location to claim cash. The practice, if confirmed, raises concerns beyond conventional vote-buying because monitoring voters' ballot papers can undermine the secrecy of the ballot and potentially place pressure on voters to vote in accordance with the wishes of party agents.
An Accord Party agent, identified as Ajayi Ayodele, was reportedly seen accusing APC agents of clustering around the polling booths to monitor ballot papers. However, the report also observed that Accord Party agents were allegedly involved in the same practice. Ayodele was reportedly seen directing voters to a location where they could collect money after voting. The presence of agents from both parties in the alleged process points to a broader concern about the extent to which financial inducement may be influencing voters at some polling locations.
Security personnel at the AUD Primary School polling location were unable to effectively curb the activities of the party agents. A security agent, whose name was withheld, reportedly lamented that he had attempted to prevent party agents from loitering around the polling booths but was unsuccessful. The incident raises a separate question about the capacity of security personnel to enforce the rules governing polling-unit conduct and preserve the secrecy and independence of voters' choices.
In Ejigbo, the tension was further compounded by a separate protest over a ballot paper shortage. Party agents demanded a recount of ballot papers, alleging that the number supplied for the election was less than the 594 they were told had been brought. One of the agents questioned the number presented at the polling location, saying: "If you count it again, I'm sure it won't be up to 100, and they claimed they brought 594 for us and now is not up to 594." In response, an INEC official at the location explained that the discrepancy was a mistake made during the counting. The agents, however, demanded that the ballot papers be counted again, insisting that voting would not commence if the number did not tally with the 594 they were expecting. "Count again and if it doesn't complete, we won't vote," the agents added.
The Ejigbo protests have cast a dark shadow over what was meant to be a celebration of democracy in Osun State. As voters continue to cast their ballots, the allegations of widespread vote-buying, the reluctance of security operatives to act, and the brazen display of cash have raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. For the voters of Ejigbo, the message was clear: they will not stand idly by while their votes are bought and sold. Their determination to challenge the vote-buying agents and expose the alleged corruption is a testament to their commitment to democracy and their refusal to be silenced.
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