Osun Election: EU observers report 103 vote-trading cases, BVAS glitches

European Union observers documented a significant number of electoral offenses and security incidents during the Osun State governorship election in Nigeria. The EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub reported 323 electoral infractions and 38 security incidents by noon on election day. These figures are based on reports from 823 accredited observers deployed across the state.

Among the infractions, 103 cases involved alleged vote trading, a practice where votes are bought or sold. Observers also noted 85 instances of exposed ballots and 38 cases of campaigning at polling units. Other reported offenses included voter obstruction, inducement of election officials, impersonation, and multiple voting. The election also saw 58 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices malfunction, though a majority were later rectified.

Despite these challenges, the EU observers characterized voter turnout as "impressive." Voting proceeded largely peacefully and orderly in the observed polling units. The report also highlighted positive aspects of inclusion, noting that women constituted 59% of voters in monitored units and over 70% of persons with disabilities voted in designated units. Women also served as 36% of polling officials.

The observers recommended that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deploy rapid response teams and backup BVAS devices to address technical issues promptly. They also urged INEC to ensure proper display of results and timely uploading to the INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). The report also flagged 11 false claims related to election processes.