2027 Polls: 70 CSOs demand electoral offences commission to curb vote trading

ABUJA — The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, a coalition of over 70 organisations working to support credible, transparent and inclusive elections in the country, called on Monday for the creation of an electoral offences commission.

The group, in its final statement on the just-concluded Osun State governorship election, further urged the National Assembly to review and set a timeline for the expeditious conclusion of pre-election cases.

It maintained that last Saturday’s gubernatorial poll in Osun State exposed “a systemic risk,” noting that “late judicial determinations affecting candidates can disrupt ballot production, logistics, voter education and the overall electoral timetable.”

It said: “The circumstances surrounding the late addition of the SDP candidate to the Osun State governorship ballot, following a Federal High Court judgment of 22 July 2026, forced the Commission to reproduce ballot papers and result sheets, with the late production reportedly delaying the arrival and distribution of sensitive materials.

“Pre-election matters should be handled within constitutional and statutory timelines, while ensuring adequate opportunity for parties to present and challenge evidence.”

The CSOs Situation Room, which disclosed that it deployed over 300 accredited observers to monitor elections across the 30 local government areas of Osun State, urged the prosecution, through the electoral offences commission, of those who allegedly engaged in thuggery and vote buying.

“While security personnel were visible at all polling units and election facilities observed, there were reports of isolated incidents of harassment, thuggery and vote buying.

“The Situation Room remains concerned about reports of vote trading and voter inducement during the election across political parties.

“Vote buying represents a direct assault on the principle of free choice and undermines the democratic value of elections.”

It decried that, at some polling units, voters reportedly displayed signs indicating their preferred party after casting their ballots, after which party agents recorded their names and phone numbers and issued them a tag.

It said the observers also noticed the “sharing of jollof rice and drinks, which caused disorderliness” at one of the polling units.

While commending the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the CSOs noted reported incidents of technical difficulties involving the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and other aspects of the accreditation process.

“The reports suggest that the challenges particularly affected facial recognition of elderly voters and the speed of accreditation.

“While technology remains an important instrument for improving electoral integrity, technical failures can undermine confidence when they delay accreditation or create uncertainty about the validity of the process.

“The Osun governorship election provides important lessons for Nigeria’s preparation for the 2027 general elections. The election demonstrates that technology can strengthen electoral transparency, but technology alone cannot guarantee credible elections.

“Electoral integrity requires the combined effectiveness of INEC, political parties, security agencies, the judiciary, citizens, observers and the media.”

Among its recommendations, the CSOs urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to work with other security agencies to strengthen mechanisms for detecting, investigating and prosecuting electoral offences relating to vote buying.

“Political parties should deepen internal democratic practices and promote issue-based campaigns.

“INEC should conduct a comprehensive post-election audit of recent off-cycle elections, focusing on key parts of the electoral process, in order to strengthen its processes and increase public confidence ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“The Situation Room commends the people of Osun State for turning out to exercise their democratic rights and for the largely peaceful manner in which the election was conducted.

“We also commend all the candidates and urge them and their supporters to accept the outcome peacefully while exercising their constitutional right to seek legal redress where they believe violations occurred.

“The Situation Room calls on the Governor-elect, political parties and all citizens to make the post-election period an opportunity to deepen democratic accountability, strengthen institutions and promote inclusive governance in Osun State.

“As Nigeria moves towards the 2027 general elections, the Situation Room urges all stakeholders to build on the positive lessons of Osun State while urgently addressing the weaknesses identified.

“Nigeria’s democracy must move from elections that are merely conducted to elections that are demonstrably credible, transparent, accountable and trusted by citizens,” the statement, signed by the Convener of the Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room, Y.Z. Ya’u, and Co-Conveners Mma Odi and Celestine Odo, further read.