Osun Election at Risk: Watchdog Alarms Over Killings and Vote Buying

A Nigerian civil society group has raised serious concerns about the integrity of Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, citing reports of violence, vote buying, and electoral manipulation. The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), which also heads Transparency International’s Nigeria chapter, said these practices undermine the credibility of the vote. In a statement, the group’s Executive Director, Auwal Rafsanjani, warned that such malpractices threaten the democratic process. He called on authorities to take immediate action to ensure a free and fair election. CISLAC specifically pointed to incidents of killings and the open purchase of votes as major red flags. The group urged security agencies and the electoral commission to enforce the law strictly. The alarm comes just days before voters head to the polls to choose a new governor for the southwestern state.