The Osun State local government elections in Nigeria have been marred by allegations of electoral malpractice, particularly in Ara town, Egbedore Local Government Area, where reports suggest that voting was conducted without the presence of electoral officials or security personnel.
The allegations, captured in a viral voice recording and pictures circulating online, have raised serious concerns about the credibility of the election.
According to the viral clip, voting allegedly commenced as early as 6 a.m. at a polling unit in the YTD area of Ara, Egbedore Local Government. It was alleged that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) brought the ballot boxes themselves, without any officials from the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) or security operatives to oversee the process.
The voice note further alleged that PDP members not only transported the ballot boxes but also conducted the election themselves, casting votes without any external supervision. It claimed that a teacher at a local grammar school in Ara, identified as was seen carrying the ballot box. Additionally, Honourable Sanya Okunade, the candidate for the position of the local government chairmanship was reportedly present at the polling unit to vote.
After allegedly completing their voting process at the YTD polling unit, the group reportedly moved to Ebenezer 1 polling unit, also in Ara, where no other voters were present, and opposition parties were allegedly barred from participating.
The allegations have sparked outrage, with opposition parties condemning the reported irregularities and demanding an immediate investigation. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political groups have described the incident as a blatant manipulation of the electoral process.
Reacting to the reports, some APC officials in Osun State called on the relevant authorities to investigate the allegations and take necessary action.
Civil society organizations and election observers have also raised concerns, urging OSSIEC and security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation. The Center for Democracy and Development (CDD) called for transparency, emphasizing that failure to address these allegations could further erode public trust in the electoral process.
Meanwhile, the Osun State government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations, but sources within the PDP dismissed the reports as propaganda aimed at discrediting the election.
