Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
An unidentified woman has been caught with ballot papers that had already been thumb‑printed at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) facility in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State, in a dramatic incident that has fuelled allegations of a systemic plot to manipulate the governorship election. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was reportedly nabbed by vigilant residents and security personnel late in the evening of Saturday, August 15, 2026, after the authentic local polling unit results had already been successfully collated and uploaded to the INEC Result Viewing (IReV) portal.
According to a report by GISTSMATE, the intercepted ballot papers entirely lacked the official and mandatory INEC stamps required for valid votes, raising serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process. A video of the incident, which has since gone viral on social media, shows the woman being confronted by residents and security operatives at the INEC facility. The footage has sparked outrage among voters and civil society groups, who have demanded an immediate investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.
The incident occurred at a critical moment in the Osun State governorship election, as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was collating results from across the state's 30 local government areas. The discovery of pre‑thumbprinted ballots at the Ifelodun facility has deepened concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, which had already been marred by reports of violence, technical glitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), and allegations of vote‑buying.
Social media platforms were flooded with reactions to the video, with many users calling on INEC and the Nigeria Police Force to launch a transparent investigation. One user, Felix, commented: "If confirmed, this is deeply troubling and deserves an immediate investigation, because every Osun voter deserves a transparent process and a credible result." Another user, Alex akinboyo, simply wrote: "wow for real," while Linzkits added: "Oya gang of thieves."
The woman's alleged involvement in the scheme has been linked to the All Progressives Congress (APC), with several social media posts identifying her as an APC woman leader. However, these allegations have not been independently verified, and the woman's identity and political affiliation remain unconfirmed. The APC has not issued an official statement on the incident, while INEC and the Osun State Police Command have yet to comment on the video as of the time of filing this report.
The incident in Ifelodun is not an isolated case of electoral malpractice in Osun State. Earlier in the day, over 100 suspected "imported" voters were arrested by security operatives, allegedly in possession of newly issued Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and camped at the residence of Hon. Abiola Ibrahim, a member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Irewole-Isokan Constituency. The arrests, which were confirmed by the Osun State Police Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, highlighted the scale of the challenges facing the electoral process.
The discovery of pre‑thumbprinted ballots at the INEC facility in Ifelodun has cast a long shadow over the Osun State governorship election, which has been closely watched as a bellwether for the 2027 general elections. The election, which featured 15 candidates, including incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party and APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji, was expected to be a test of Nigeria's democratic resilience. However, the series of irregularities and allegations of manipulation have raised serious questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the ability of INEC to conduct free and fair elections.
As the collation of results continues, the people of Osun State and the wider Nigerian public are left to wonder whether the election will be remembered as a celebration of democracy or a cautionary tale of electoral fraud. The woman caught with pre‑thumbprinted ballots at the INEC facility in Ifelodun has become a symbol of the challenges facing Nigeria's electoral system, and her case will likely be cited as evidence of the need for urgent reforms to protect the integrity of the vote. For now, the video of the incident serves as a stark reminder that the battle for the soul of Nigeria's democracy is far from over.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments