{
  "id": 1214660,
  "title": "Osun gov poll largely peaceful, says CDD",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/osun-gov-poll-largely-peaceful-says-cdd",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T06:30:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/osun-gov-poll-largely-peaceful-says-cdd/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has reported that the 2026 Osun governorship election was largely peaceful, though not without some operational challenges. CDD-West Africa's Election Analysis Centre issued this preliminary statement in Abuja, with Dr Dauda Garuba and Prof. Victor Adetula as signatories. The assessment covered all 30 Local Government Areas, 332 registration areas and 3,763 polling units in Osun.\n\nAccording to the CDD analysis, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) performed well in deploying personnel. Ninety-one percent of observed polling units had election officials present by 8:30 a.m., while the remaining ten percent arrived between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. INEC reported that 3,556 polling units - 94.5 percent of them - opened by 8:30 a.m. However, CDD identified delays and operational issues in certain areas, including Ife Central and Aiyedire Local Government Areas.\n\nTechnical difficulties with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were also reported, causing slow processing and challenging biometric verification. These issues were noted in several locations, including Irepodun, Ejigbo, Obokun, Osogbo, Olorunda, Ola Oluwa, Ede North and Ede South. CDD urged INEC to provide functional backup equipment and prompt technical support when BVAS malfunctions occur.\n\nThe monitoring organisation expressed concerns over reports of vote buying, citing observer accounts and media reports. Notably, allegations of vote solicitation and bribery were made in Ilesa East, Ola Oluwa, and Irewole Local Government Areas. CDD-EAC also reported that a suspect was arrested in Irepodun for possession of signed paper tallies related to alleged vote buying. They urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and police to investigate credible allegations of vote buying and prosecute any established violations.\n\nWhile voting was generally peaceful, CDD raised concerns over violent incidents in Ejigbo and Modakeke. Suspected thugs reportedly disrupted voting at Ejigbo Ward 4, Polling Unit 13, where ADC governorship candidate Najeem Salaam cast his ballot. They also expressed concern over allegations of voters being tear-gassed in Modakeke and Obokun and called for an independent investigation into these incidents.\n\nCDD-EAC advised security agencies to remain politically neutral, exercise restraint, and protect voters of all political affiliations. They commended Osun voters, INEC officials and security personnel for their efforts but stressed that isolated incidents of violence, vote buying and technical challenges should not be dismissed. The centre promised to continue monitoring the entire voting, counting and collation process before releasing a comprehensive post-election assessment.",
  "summary": "The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) reports the Osun governorship election was largely peaceful despite some operational challenges and vote buy Read More: https://punchng.com/osun-gov-poll-largely-peaceful-says-cdd/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The largely peaceful Osun governorship election highlights INEC's improved operational performance, but also underscores persistent challenges with technology and vote buying that require swift and effective responses from authorities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}