The African Democratic Congress, ADC, governorship candidate in Saturday’s Ekiti State election, Dare Bejide, has alleged vote-buying at his polling unit in Ilawe-Ekiti, raising fresh concerns over electoral malpractice as voting continues across the state.
Bejide made the allegation shortly after casting his vote at Oke Adura, Polling Unit 04, Ekiti South-West LGA. He accused an unidentified woman of attempting to influence voters with cash inside the polling environment.
Confrontation at Oke Adura Polling Unit
The ADC candidate was seen engaging the woman in a heated exchange in the presence of security personnel. He insisted she had brought money to the unit in breach of electoral laws.
“You brought money here; it is against the law. Yes, I saw you with money,” Bejide said during the confrontation.
The woman denied the claim, challenging him to produce evidence.
“Which money? Where is the money here? That is a big lie,” she replied.
Police officers deployed at the unit stepped in to calm tensions and prevent the argument from escalating. Responding to Bejide’s complaint, one officer said the police’s mandate was to maintain security and order.
“The only thing I can do for you is to provide an enabling environment; we are dropping some manpower,” the officer stated.
More Allegations Reported Elsewhere
The incident at Ilawe-Ekiti comes as reports of alleged vote-buying emerged from other parts of the state. In Gbonyin LGA, Ward 06, Polling Unit 15, party agents were accused of distributing ₦10,000 to voters in a secluded area after verifying their identity tags.
Election observers have flagged similar incidents in several polling units, warning that vote-buying could undermine the credibility of the process despite assurances from INEC and security agencies.
Voting in the Ekiti governorship election has recorded steady turnout across the 16 LGAs. Security personnel and electoral officials remain on ground at polling centres while monitoring reports of infractions.
INEC and the police are yet to issue an official statement on the allegations as collation continues.
