Oyo By-Election: ADC Candidate Akin-Alamu Alleges Large-Scale Vote Buying

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate for the Ibadan North Federal Constituency by-election, Femi Dexter Akin-Alamu, has raised the alarm over what he described as “large-scale vote buying” during Saturday’s exercise.

Speaking shortly after casting his ballot at Ward 11, Polling Unit 38, University of Ibadan, Akin-Alamu alleged that voters across several polling units were openly approached with financial inducements and other incentives in exchange for their votes.

“I have received numerous reports from across the constituency that money and material gifts were being distributed to lure voters.

This is a serious threat to the sanctity of our democracy,” he told journalists.

The ADC candidate condemned the alleged malpractice, stressing that such actions erode the credibility of the electoral process. According to him, democracy thrives on the free expression of the people’s will, but when votes are bought, the outcome no longer reflects the true choice of the electorate.

“When voters are swayed by financial inducements, the true will of the people is obscured, and this inevitably leads to a loss of trust in our democratic institutions,” Akin-Alamu said.

He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies, and civil society groups to intensify efforts in curbing electoral corruption, warning that continued tolerance of vote buying would weaken governance and deepen citizens’ disillusionment with democracy.

As of press time, INEC had yet to issue an official response to the allegations.

The Ibadan North by-election was conducted to fill the vacant seat in the House of Representatives, following the death of Hon. Olaide Akinremi, popularly known as Jagaban, who represented the constituency until July 2024.