Yiaga validates INEC results, raises vote-buying concerns

Yiaga Africa has validated the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the Osun State governorship election, stating they are consistent with its own independent statistical estimates. The civil society organization, however, voiced significant concerns regarding alleged vote buying, voter inducement, and identified gaps in the deployment of electoral technology.

Presenting its findings in Osogbo, Yiaga Africa's Osun Election Observation Mission Chairperson, Dr. Asmau Maikudi, explained that their verification was based on reports from 96% of sampled polling units across the state. The organization's estimates indicated that the Accord party would receive between 50.3% and 54% of the votes, the African Democratic Congress between 1.4% and 2.1%, and the All Progressives Congress between 43% and 46.8%. These figures fell within the ranges of INEC's official results, suggesting the tabulation of polling unit results was accurate.

However, Yiaga Africa stressed that this finding pertains only to the accuracy of result tabulation and does not address other integrity concerns. "Widespread reports of vote buying and voter inducement raise serious concerns about the integrity of voter choice," the organization stated. They noted that if results had been altered during collation, INEC's figures would have fallen outside their estimated ranges.

The organization also estimated voter turnout at 42.5% to 44.8%, closely matching INEC's official figure of 43%. Yiaga Africa reported improvements in election-day logistics, with accreditation and voting commencing promptly in a majority of observed units. While the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) functioned correctly in 80% of polling units, it experienced malfunctions in the remaining 20%.

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However, widespread reports of vote buying and voter inducement raise serious concerns about the integrity of voter choice.