Election observers reported 323 electoral offences and irregularities across 726 polling units monitored during Saturday’s Osun governorship election, alongside 38 security incidents.
The findings were released by the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria Election Observation Hub, which deployed 823 accredited observers across the state’s 30 local government areas.
Vote trading topped the reported offences with 103 cases, followed by ballot-paper exposure with 85 cases.
Observers also recorded 38 cases of campaigning at polling units, 31 cases of voter obstruction, 28 cases of inducement of polling and security officials, 14 cases of voter impersonation, 12 cases of multiple voting and seven cases of official misconduct.
The Hub also reported 25 cases of thuggery, 12 attacks on election officials and cases of voter intimidation allegedly involving security personnel.
International Press Centre Executive Director Lanre Arogundade said most security personnel acted professionally but urged authorities to address reported cases of intimidation.
“Although most of the security personnel exhibited professional conduct over the course of voting, there were some reported cases of voter intimidation by security agents,” he said.
The observers also reported 58 BVAS malfunctions, with 41 devices later restored, and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to deploy technical support and backup devices where needed.
They called on political parties and candidates to reject vote buying and violence, urging them to channel electoral grievances through lawful processes.
The Hub also urged the media to avoid publishing unofficial results before INEC’s formal declarations and called on voters to remain peaceful during counting and collation.
It said a comprehensive post-election report would be released after the final results are declared.
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