The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate allegations of vote-buying, financial inducements, and violence linked to the recently concluded 2026 Osun State governorship election.

This demand follows the announcement that Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party has been re-elected for another term, having secured 511,067 votes against his closest rival, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who garnered 444,815 votes. The State Returning Officer, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, made the declaration early on Sunday morning.

Reports indicate that Adeleke won in 19 out of 30 local government areas, while Oyebamiji claimed victory in 11 areas. The African Democratic Congress candidate, Najeem Salaam, came in third. However, the election has been marred by accusations of irregularities, prompting SERAP to act.

In a petition dated August 16, 2026, and signed by SERAP's Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged the relevant authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into reported electoral offences. The petition specifically calls for scrutiny of cases involving vote-buying, intimidation, and misuse of public resources during the election.

SERAP emphasized the importance of preserving various forms of evidence, including banking and mobile-money records, telecommunications data, and CCTV footage from polling units. They argue that the legitimacy of the election results hinges on whether voters were able to exercise their rights without coercion or inducement.

The group highlighted preliminary findings from civil society observers, which noted 323 electoral offences across 726 polling units. These included 103 instances of vote trading, 28 cases of inducement of electoral officials, and 38 security incidents, such as thuggery and voter intimidation. The reports also documented cases of voter impersonation and multiple voting, raising serious concerns about the integrity of the electoral process.

In the petition, SERAP called for a coordinated investigation by INEC, EFCC, and ICPC, stating that a joint effort would facilitate a comprehensive examination of the financial and criminal aspects of the reported electoral violations. They also suggested involving regional and international bodies, such as the African Union and ECOWAS, to enhance transparency and accountability.

The organization stressed that accountability is crucial not only for the Osun election but also for maintaining public confidence in the electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. SERAP urged the agencies to publish their findings and ensure that any credible evidence of corruption or coercion is made available to electoral tribunals and other accountability mechanisms.

As the situation unfolds, SERAP has requested updates on the actions taken in response to their petition, emphasizing the need for a transparent investigation regardless of the election outcome.