Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor | journalist at Weng Global
Civil society organisations (CSOs) and members of the National Assembly have called for a comprehensive investigation into violence recorded before and during the 2026 Osun State governorship election, while also demanding greater transparency in campaign financing.
The calls followed the August 15 governorship election, which returned Governor Ademola Adeleke to office after he secured 511,067 votes, defeating the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, who polled 444,815 votes.
Beyond the outcome of the election, stakeholders have shifted attention to incidents of violence, alleged political intimidation, campaign spending and the deployment of security personnel before and during the poll.
CSOs demand campaign funds audit
The Country Director of ActionAid International Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, called for an independent audit of funds allegedly spent during the APC campaign in Osun State.
Mamedu questioned the source of funds used by APC governors and other senior party figures who participated in campaign activities for Oyebamiji.
According to him, the public deserves clarification on whether public resources were used to finance political activities, including trips and other campaign-related engagements.
The demand for an audit comes amid broader concerns over the financing of Nigerian elections, particularly the difficulty of determining how much candidates and political parties actually spend during campaigns.
For civil society groups, greater scrutiny of campaign financing is important because undisclosed or excessive political spending can undermine electoral fairness and create opportunities for corruption.
Mamedu’s call therefore goes beyond the Osun election itself, raising questions about how political campaigns are financed and whether candidates and their supporters comply with existing electoral and financial regulations.
Lawmakers seek investigation into election violence
The Save Democracy Group, a bipartisan platform comprising members of the House of Representatives, also demanded a full investigation into violence and deaths associated with the election.
The lawmakers said every death linked to political violence must be investigated and that anyone found responsible should face the law.
They also called for an investigation into a viral video allegedly involving Senator Francis Fadahunsi. The lawmakers said remarks attributed to the senator could be interpreted as encouraging violence against supporters of the Accord party.
Fadahunsi has reportedly denied inciting violence.
The lawmakers urged relevant security and human rights agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and National Human Rights Commission, to investigate the allegation and prosecute anyone found to have committed an offence.
The demand comes against the backdrop of reports of repeated politically motivated violence in Osun ahead of the election.
At least 34 violent incidents recorded
Security concerns surrounding the election were not limited to polling day.
According to police figures reported by The PUNCH, at least 34 election-related violent incidents resulting in 18 deaths had been recorded in Osun since May 2026.
Although the August 15 election was largely peaceful, pockets of violence were still reported in some locations, prompting authorities to maintain heightened security after the poll.
The Nigeria Police Force said about 15,000 personnel deployed for the election remained in the state after the poll, while anti-riot officers and undercover operatives were deployed to strategic locations to prevent possible post-election violence.
The continued security presence highlights the seriousness of concerns surrounding political violence and the possibility of retaliation after the declaration of results.
Questions over security deployment
The lawmakers also questioned the scale and composition of security personnel deployed for the election.
They argued that the Federal Government should explain the criteria used to determine the number of security personnel deployed to Osun and publish the security assessment and deployment framework used for the exercise.
According to them, deploying large numbers of security personnel should translate into effective protection of lives and property.
The issue is particularly significant because Nigeria continues to face security challenges in several regions, including terrorism, banditry and kidnapping. Lawmakers therefore want greater transparency regarding how security resources are allocated during elections.
SERAP also demands probe
The calls for accountability have been echoed by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP).
SERAP petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging them to investigate alleged vote-buying, financial inducement, illegal election financing, voter intimidation, violence and other electoral offences connected to the Osun election.
The organisation’s intervention adds pressure on electoral and anti-corruption agencies to examine not only physical violence but also the financial practices surrounding the election.
Technology improved transparency
Despite the concerns, the Athena Election Observatory said technological improvements and the presence of party agents helped strengthen the integrity of the election.
The organisation highlighted the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and the uploading of polling-unit results to INEC’s Result Viewing portal as measures that improved transparency and created a more auditable electoral process.
However, it identified delays in uploading results, questions surrounding transmission timelines and the resilience of electoral technology as areas requiring improvement before the 2027 general elections.
The observatory said it would conduct a comprehensive independent post-election audit, stressing that scrutiny should continue even after a winner has been declared.
Why the demands matter
The renewed calls for investigations have implications beyond Osun State.
Electoral violence has the potential to discourage voters, intimidate political opponents and weaken public confidence in democratic institutions. When incidents involving deaths or serious injuries are not properly investigated, political actors may conclude that violence carries little consequence.
Similarly, an audit of campaign financing could provide greater clarity about the sources of funds used during elections and whether public resources are being diverted into partisan activities.
For Nigeria’s democracy, accountability must therefore extend beyond declaring winners and losers.
The outcome of an election is important, but so is the process through which political actors compete for power.
What happens next?
The attention is now on INEC, security agencies, anti-corruption bodies and other relevant institutions to determine whether the allegations will receive comprehensive investigation.
A credible investigation would need to establish what happened, identify those responsible for proven offences and determine whether campaign financing and security deployment complied with the law.
For civil society organisations and lawmakers, the Osun experience should also provide lessons ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Their central argument is that political competition should never justify violence, intimidation or the misuse of public resources.
As Nigeria moves closer to another major electoral cycle, how authorities respond to the allegations arising from Osun could influence public confidence in the country’s ability to prevent electoral violence and enforce accountability.
Sources: The PUNCH; Tribune Online; ActionAid International Nigeria; SERAP; Athena Election Observatory.
