Osun Poll: APC, Accord Accused Of N10,000–N20,000 Vote-Buying Across State

Agents of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Accord Party have been accused of widespread vote-buying across Osun State, with voters offered between *N10,000 and N20,000* ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.

_Saturday PUNCH_ gathered that the inducement started six days to the poll — earlier than in previous elections.

According to voters, both parties also collected the account numbers of thousands of voters a week before the election, with plans to credit them after voting.

Governor *Ademola Adeleke* of Accord is seeking re-election against *Bola Oyebamiji* of APC, *Najeem Salaam* of ADC and nine other candidates. A total of *1,906,390 registered voters* with PVCs are expected to vote.

Findings showed both Accord and APC began distributing cash and food items between Monday and Tuesday. In some cases, beneficiaries were made to swear oaths to vote for the party providing the items.

Viral videos also showed supporters of Adeleke and Oyebamiji openly distributing cash, salt, rice and other items.

*Ilesa: APC Pays N20,000, Accord Pays N10,000*

In Ilesa East, Ilesa West and Atakunmosa East LGAs, voters said APC was disbursing *N20,000 per voter* from Tuesday to Friday at the homes of appointed party chieftains.

“I collected my N20,000 at Bonnke area on Wednesday. The cash was in N1,000 and N500 notes. Over 200 voters were paid unit by unit,” a beneficiary said.

A human rights activist confirmed it:

“At Coca-Cola area, people got N20,000 each in a storey building after showing their PVC. At Abiola Avenue, the same thing happened.”

In Iroye and Imo areas, APC was also sharing rice.

“They cursed beneficiaries, saying it would not be well with them if they failed to vote for AMBO after collecting the money,” a student leader said.

_Saturday PUNCH_ also gathered that Accord was paying *N10,000*. At Olowu Village in Atakunmosa East, beneficiaries were allegedly made to swear an oath three weeks ago.

An APC chieftain in Ilesa West denied vote-buying:

“We are not buying votes. We only provided cash for transportation to polling units.”

*Osogbo: N15,000 Per Voter*

In Osogbo LGA, APC distributed *N15,000 each* to voters in all 15 wards.

“We targeted 150 voters per unit. 75 got N15,000 on Wednesday and another 75 on Thursday. That was for feeding, not vote-buying,” an APC chieftain said.

*Iwo, Aiyedire, Ila*

In Iwo, an APC source said *N700,000 was budgeted per polling unit*, distributed at *N15,000 per voter* since Tuesday.

In Aiyedire, Accord started paying *N10,000* on Monday. “APC is paying N15,000 against Accord’s N10,000. I collected from both in Ward 2, Ileogbo,” a voter said. Over 200 women in Ileogbo were also offered N10,000 by a pro-APC group.

In Ila, APC offered *N15,000* while Accord paid *N20,000*. Residents said beneficiaries were asked to swear to vote for Adeleke.

*Ife, Ikire, Boluwaduro, Ede*

In Ile-Ife, APC paid *N15,000* and Accord *N10,000* per voter. PVCs were requested before payment.

In Ikire, APC offered *N15,000* while Accord gave *N10,000*. Distribution started about a week ago.

In Boluwaduro, Accord was paying *N10,000* and asking beneficiaries to swear by the Ogun deity. APC had budgeted the same amount but had not started.

In Ede, Accord began paying *N10,000* two weeks ago, after initially giving groups of 100 voters N1m each. APC started paying *N15,000* on Tuesday.

APC chieftain *Alhaja Falilat Yusuf ‘Ero-Arike’* was also seen in a viral video distributing rice and cursing women who collected it but failed to vote APC. Similar oath-taking videos surfaced for Accord.

*Police Warning*

The police warned politicians and voters against vote-buying, saying offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.