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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Elections & Politics

Nigeria Election Recap: Vote-Buying Allegations in Osun, Atiku Sues Tinubu, Borno Families Sell Homes for Ransom

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • The Osun governorship election is underway amidst allegations of widespread vote-buying by the APC and Accord Party, with agents reportedly offering voters between N10,000 and N20,000.
  • Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has sued President Bola Tinubu, seeking his disqualification over an alleged forged NYSC certificate, and a related petition was filed with the European Commission.
  • In Borno State, families of kidnapped residents are selling houses to pay ransom, facing fraud and a lack of government intervention.

Osun State is the focal point of Nigeria's political landscape today as its governorship election unfolds amidst serious allegations of vote-buying. Both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Accord Party stand accused of inducing voters with sums ranging from N10,000 to N20,000, alongside food items. Reports suggest these inducements began days before the poll, with some recipients allegedly forced to swear oaths of allegiance.

soldiers are trying to block me from entering Osun State on election day.

— DavidoThe Afrobeats star claimed on X that soldiers were attempting to prevent his entry into Osun State on election day.

Amidst the electoral tension, Afrobeats star Davido, nephew of incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke, claimed on social media that soldiers were attempting to block his entry into Osun State on election day. He asserted every Nigerian's right to free movement, adding to the charged atmosphere surrounding the election.

Beyond the Osun polls, political maneuvering continues at the federal level. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has initiated legal action against President Bola Tinubu, filing a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja. Abubakar seeks Tinubu's disqualification from the 2027 presidential election, citing an allegedly forged NYSC certificate submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). A parallel petition concerning forged INEC documents has also reportedly been submitted to the European Commission in Brussels.

The inducement, which also includes food items, reportedly began days before the poll, with some beneficiaries asked to swear oaths of allegiance.

— The PunchThe newspaper detailed the alleged vote-buying practices in Osun State.

Meanwhile, a stark reminder of the nation's security challenges comes from Borno State, where families of 52 residents kidnapped in April are resorting to selling their homes to meet ransom demands. Many report being defrauded by impostors, while others have received no contact from the actual captors or any substantial government assistance months after the abductions, highlighting a desperate situation for many families.

Relatives of some of the 52 residents kidnapped in Borno State in April have resorted to selling their houses in anticipation of ransom demands.

— The PunchThe report highlighted the dire situation faced by families of kidnap victims in Borno State.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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