The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub (EU-SDGN EOH) has recorded 323 cases of electoral offences and irregularities in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
The observation hub disclosed this in its preliminary election-day statement issued at 2pm on Saturday, August 15, 2026, based on reports from observers deployed across the state.
The Hub comprises the Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC) and Yiaga Africa.
The observers said the findings covered the opening of polls, voter accreditation, voting, election security, inclusion and other aspects of the electoral process as observed up to noon.
Vote Trading, Ballot Exposure Top Irregularities
According to the joint statement signed by Centre for Media and Society (CEMESO), International Press Centre (IPC), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), TAF Africa, The Kukah Centre (TKC), and Yiaga Africa, the 323 recorded cases included 103 incidents of vote trading, 85 cases of ballot paper exposure, 38 instances of campaigning at polling units and 31 cases of obstruction of voters.
The Hub also recorded 28 cases involving the inducement of polling and security officials, 14 cases of voter impersonation, 12 cases of multiple voting and seven cases of misconduct by election officials.
The observers stressed that the 323 cases did not represent 323 separate polling units, as multiple irregularities were recorded at some polling units.
38 Security Incidents Recorded
The EU-SDGN EOH also reported 38 security incidents, including 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on electoral officials and nine cases of voter intimidation by security personnel.
It said an average of three security personnel were deployed to the polling units observed.
While most security personnel were said to have acted professionally, the observers reported cases of alleged voter intimidation at PU 29-10-10-005 at Igbon DC School in Ejigbo and PU 29-30-06-015 at an open space opposite No. 22, Oke Ola Street, Okanla Area, Osogbo.
The Hub urged security agencies to maintain neutrality and professionalism, while keeping a visible but restrained presence at polling units and collation centres.
BVAS Malfunctions Reported
On the deployment of election materials and personnel, the observers said officials with complete sensitive and non-sensitive materials were present in 726 of the 823 polling units where they had observers.
Of these, 608 polling units, representing 83.7 per cent, had the full complement of materials between 7:30am and 8:00am.
Officials arrived between 8:00am and 8:30am in 75 polling units, while 42 polling units received officials between 8:30am and 11:00am.
One polling unit had yet to open as of 11am due to the non-arrival of election personnel and materials.
The observers also reported that 58 BVAS devices malfunctioned, although 41 of the affected devices were reportedly rectified and accreditation resumed.
The Hub called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately deploy backup BVAS and other technical support to polling units where accreditation devices failed.
Women, Persons With Disabilities Record Strong Participation
The election was largely inclusive, according to the observers, with noticeable participation by women and persons with disabilities.
The Hub reported that women accounted for about 59 per cent of voters in the observed polling units, while more than 70 per cent of persons with disabilities turned out to vote at the 12 designated PwD polling units observed.
Women also represented 36 per cent of polling officials in the observed locations.
The observers described voter turnout as impressive and said voters were generally peaceful and orderly, supported by crowd-control measures deployed by election officials and security personnel.
Fact-Checkers Detect 11 False Claims
The election environment was also described as generally conducive for journalists and observers, with no major incident involving denial of access to polling units recorded as of the time of the statement.
The Hub’s fact-checkers had detected and fact-checked about 11 false claims linked to the election.
The claims reportedly involved allegations of payment of INEC officials, police arrests and underage voting, among others.
The Hub said claims relating to alleged shooting and disruption of voting were still undergoing fact-checking.
Observers Urge Parties to Await Official Results
As counting and collation continue, the EU-SDGN EOH urged political parties and candidates to await INEC’s official declaration of results and pursue grievances through lawful channels.
It also advised the media not to announce unofficial or projected results, urging journalists to rely on real-time fact-checking to counter misinformation during the counting and collation stages.
The Hub’s observers are expected to remain deployed at polling units and collation centres to monitor the counting, collation and transmission of results until the final declaration.
The organisation said it would publish a Post-Election Report after the declaration, covering the overall conduct, credibility and outcome of the election.
The EU-SDGN EOH described the Osun governorship election as a critical test of Nigeria’s new electoral legal framework and a bellwether for the 2027 general election.
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