Experts raise concerns over tracking election spending as INEC probes N100bn expenditure in Osun poll

A report by Saturday PUNCH detailed spending by the two parties on vote buying, campaign materials, party agents, canvassers, security personnel, and electoral officers. The report, based on findings from party officials and other participants, indicated that the APC allegedly spent N22.578 billion on vote buying, allocating N40,000 per targeted voter, while Accord reportedly spent N11.289 billion, targeting 150 voters per polling unit at N20,000 each. Some voters allegedly received up to N80,000.

Under Section 922 of the Electoral Act 2026, a governorship candidate's election expenses must not exceed N3 billion. The Osun election was won by Accord candidate Ademola Adeleke with 511,067 votes, defeating APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji who garnered 444,815 votes. INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna stated that the commission would conduct its own assessment to verify the facts before determining if the spending limit was breached, as it cannot rely solely on the PUNCH report.

Former and serving Resident Electoral Commissioners RECs acknowledged the difficulty in establishing exact amounts spent but urged INEC and security agencies to enforce spending limits and prosecute offende