The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, has called on media practitioners in Osun State to make the fight against vote buying a major focus of their coverage ahead of the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The appeal was made during a one-day Media Stakeholders’ Forum held in Osogbo on Tuesday, where the National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee, Malam Mohammed Kudu Haruna, urged journalists to investigate and expose electoral malpractice.

Represented by the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, Haruna described vote buying as the most disturbing issue observed during the June 20, 2026 Ekiti State governorship election, alleging that political actors and their agents offered cash to voters at polling units and, in some instances, distributed numbered vouchers redeemable away from voting centres.

He said journalists should gather evidence capable of supporting prosecution by documenting incidents with precision. 

“Reporters should capture names, locations, amounts involved and the structure of coordination in their investigations,” he said, adding that such reports would strengthen efforts to prosecute offenders.

The National Commissioner cited Section 22 of the Electoral Act 2026, stating that anyone convicted of vote trading faces a fine of not less than N5 million, imprisonment for up to two years, or both, as well as a 10-year ban from contesting public office.

He explained that evidence gathered by the media would support enforcement efforts involving INEC, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the State Security Service. 

According to him, editors should assign dedicated resources to investigating vote buying before, during and after election day.

Haruna also disclosed that the commission had completed major preparations for the Osun governorship election, including the clearance of candidates from 14 political parties, the registration of 381,817 new voters during the Continuous Voter Registration exercise and plans to deploy the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the INEC Result Viewing Portal across all 30 local government areas.

Referring to the recent Ekiti governorship election, he said the BVAS recorded a 96 per cent functionality rate, while the IReV achieved a 98 per cent result upload completion rate. 

While expressing confidence that the same technologies would support a credible electoral process in Osun, the National Commissioner also raised concern over declining voter turnout across the country, noting that fewer than four out of every 10 registered voters were accredited during the Ekiti election. 

He urged media organisations to intensify voter education and encourage citizens to participate in the electoral process while promoting awareness of IReV for result verification.

In her welcome address, Mrs Babalola described the media as an essential partner in strengthening democracy through accurate reporting and public enlightenment. 

She called for sustained collaboration between journalists and the commission to ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election.

Also speaking, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity, Mrs Victoria Eta-Messi, represented by the Deputy Director of Information and Publicity, Mr Wilfred Ifogah, said the forum was organised to improve collaboration between INEC and media professionals, provide updates on preparations for the election and explain the commission’s responsibilities under the Electoral Act 2026.

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, Adeyemi Aboderin, pledged the support of journalists in combating vote trading and mobilising voters ahead of the poll. 

He expressed optimism that the August 15 governorship election, in which 14 political parties, including the ruling party, will participate, would produce better outcomes than the recent Ekiti governorship election.

A group within the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ondo State chapter, the Grassroots Movement for Tinubu. GMT, on Tuesday kicked against the protest over the purported list of candidates for National Assembly positions in the state.

The group condemned the involvement of cabinet members and government officials in the protest, describing their actions as an affront to the party’s leadership.

The APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and the National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, had, in a letter addressed to the INEC Chairman, forwarded what the party described as its “final position” on the affected constituencies after considering the reports of the primary election appeal committees.

The review produced major changes across the state, with the party replacing two of its three senatorial candidates and six House of Representatives candidates affected by the appeals.

According to the group, the National Working Committee’s (NWC) position on the outcomes of the primaries in the state was in tandem with the party’s commitment to justice, internal democracy, and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The group, in a statement signed by the Director-General of GMT, Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, congratulated all successful candidates who emerged from the APC National Assembly nomination process in the state.

GMT noted that the NWC has, over the years, demonstrated fairness, courage, and impartiality in resolving post-primary disagreements in the state.

The group condemned the conduct of some Ondo State Government appointees, led by the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Seun Osamaye, over the matter.

“We call on Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to caution his appointees and ensure that all government officials respect the decisions and supremacy of our great party in the interest of peace and discipline.”

Senator Seriake Dickson, the national leader of the Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, has revealed details of a recent discussion he had with the party’s vice presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso.

In a post on his official Facebook page on Monday, Senator Dickson said Kwankwaso informed him of positive developments emerging from his engagements and consultations.

Dickson also said that the former Governor of Kano State had successfully uploaded his details to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) portal.

He wrote, “I have just visited and held discussions with our Vice Presidential candidate, His Excellency Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, CON.

“I was briefed on very positive developments arising from his engagements and consultations, and he also confirmed that he has concluded his deposition, and his name has been successfully uploaded to the INEC portal as the vice presidential candidate of our great party for the 2027 presidential election.”

He declared that the party’s leadership and members “remain on course and steadfast in our commitment to the mission ahead. Long live the NDC. Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”