The All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Accord in Osun State have exchanged allegations of vote-buying and electoral malpractice ahead of the August 15, 2026 Osun State governorship election, with both parties calling for investigations by relevant authorities.

The Osun State chapter of the APC alleged that Governor Ademola Adeleke had concluded plans to induce civil servants, teachers, local government workers and other public servants with a payment of N20,000 each to influence their votes in the forthcoming election.

In a statement signed by the party’s Director of Media and Information, Kola Olabisi on Sunday, the APC claimed the payments would begin reaching workers’ bank accounts from Monday, describing the alleged move as an attempt to secure electoral support.

The opposition party urged workers to reject the “Greek gift”, arguing that the governor had outstanding obligations, including leave bonuses, pension deductions, cooperative deductions, health insurance remittances and trade union check-off dues.

According to the APC, “It is absurd and criminal for the governor to engage in vote buying from all the active government workers in the state which has been outlawed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

The party alleged that some Accord agents were seen in Osogbo distributing N10,000 to prospective voters after allegedly compelling them to swear an oath to support Governor Adeleke in the election.

The APC called on the Independent National Electoral Commission, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate the allegations, citing provisions of the Electoral Act relating to vote-buying.

Responding, the Osun State chapter of the Accord dismissed the APC’s claims as false and hypocritical, alleging instead that APC operatives had been buying Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs,nand collecting voters’ Personal Identification Numbers, PIN, across the state over the past two months.

In a statement signed by the Osun Accord Chairman, Pastor Victor Babalola Akande, the party maintained that Governor Adeleke had no reason to induce workers because of his administration’s record on salary payments, pensions, promotions and workers’ welfare.

The Accord stated, “Governor Adeleke does not need to buy the votes of Osun workers. He has earned their confidence through prompt payment of salaries, regular pension payments, payment of accumulated promotion benefits owed by the APC as well as half salaries, improved workers’ welfare, promotions, settlement of long neglected entitlements and a consistent commitment to rebuilding the public service.”

The party also alleged that APC-backed operatives had been inducing vulnerable voters with cash and food items while collecting PVC details and voters’ PINs, adding that the alleged incidents had already been reported to INEC and security agencies for investigation.

Both parties however urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and security agencies to investigate their respective allegations.

Vice presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, Rabi’u Kwankwaso, says the North must not always produce Nigeria’s leader.

Kwankwaso made this assertion during an interview programme on News Central Television.

He was speaking on his decision to run alongside a Southern presidential candidate, noting that the North believes in fairness, justice and mutual respect between the two regions.

When asked about a school of thought that says that the North should always rule Nigeria, Kwankwaso pointed to his current political alignment as evidence that such thinking is not universal.

“I don’t have to put it in words. By what I am doing now, being vice to somebody from the South, I don’t think that argument can stand on our side.

“So we believe, North, I can tell you, believe in fairness; we believe in justice and we believe in mutual respect between the South and the North. And that has always been our position,” Kwankwaso said.

His assertion came as the NDC prepares for the 2027 presidential election, with Kwankwaso serving as running mate to Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate.

Recall that Kwankwaso had previously rejected an offer to serve as Obi’s running mate ahead of the 2023 election, explaining at the time that the ‘mood’ in the North favoured power remaining in the region after President Muhammadu Buhari’s eight-year tenure.

The Senator representing Kano Central Senatorial District, Senator Rufai Sani Hanga, has commenced consultations with political allies, stakeholders and leaders of his district amid speculation over his possible defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

This comes as Senator Hanga was said to have convened a meeting with his constituency coordinators drawn from the 15 local government areas that make up Kano Central, where he discussed the state of his political movement and sought their views on his next political step.

In a statement posted on Hanga’s official social media page, the meeting focused on “key political issues” and the current realities within his political camp.

It was also reported that the embattled senator, who appears to have parted ways with Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), briefed the coordinators on recent political developments affecting his political structure.

The statement said Hanga specifically requested the opinion of the grassroots leaders on his political future, “particularly regarding the possibility of moving to another political party,” as part of wider consultations before reaching a final decision.

“The meeting forms part of the senator’s continuous engagement with critical stakeholders in his political family ahead of any major decision concerning his political future,” the statement added.

Although Hanga did not disclose the political party he may be considering, his consultations come at a time of heightened political realignments across Kano State and the country, with several prominent politicians reviewing their alliances ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The senator, who was elected to the Red Chamber on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), reportedly defected briefly to the ADC before later joining the NDC. He has remained a key figure in discussions surrounding the evolving political landscape in Kano.

His latest engagement with constituency leaders came on the heels of similar meetings with Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf and the National Chairman of the APC, Yilwatda. The consultations signal an effort to build consensus within his political base before making any far-reaching decision on his future.

However, the State Chairman of the NNPP and a diehard Kwankwaso supporter, Alhaji Hashimu Dungurawa, was recently quoted as saying that Senator Hanga was planning to part ways with the Kwankwasiyya movement.

“Senator Hanga told me himself that never in his life will he drop his loyalty to Kwankwaso and shun the Kwankwasiyya movement. This he personally confirmed to me”, Dungurawa insisted.