HURIWA Reiterates Warning on Vote Buying, Says Osun Poll Elevates Menace to New Level

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has reiterated its earlier warning over the escalating menace of vote buying in Nigeria, saying the disturbing trend witnessed during the Osun State governorship election has further exposed the dangerous extent to which money is being deployed to compromise the democratic will of the electorate.

HURIWA is worried by the widespread allegations that APC and Accord Party in Osun state began since on Monday to pay potential voters with N20,000 and N10 000 for their votes this Saturday. This statewide purchasing of votes is despicable and reprehensible just as the inability of the law enforcement agencies to prevent these scandals from happening, is absolutely unacceptable.

HURIWA National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, said the organisation had repeatedly warned that vote buying was gradually evolving from an electoral malpractice into a sophisticated political enterprise capable of undermining constitutional democracy.
According to him, developments surrounding the Osun election have only reinforced HURIWA’s fears that the practice is becoming increasingly entrenched in Nigeria’s electoral culture.
“We warned before now that vote buying was becoming a serious threat to Nigeria’s democracy. What we have witnessed in Osun has elevated that menace to another level and should serve as a wake-up call to every institution responsible for protecting the sanctity of the ballot.”
HURIWA said vote buying must no longer be treated as an isolated electoral offence committed by individuals at polling units, but as a broader form of electoral corruption and an assault on the constitutional sovereignty of the Nigerian people.
The association described the buying and selling of votes as “electoral terrorism against constitutional democracy,” arguing that the practice terrorises the conscience of voters, distorts electoral competition and enables politicians with greater financial resources to purchase political power.
HURIWA warned that the danger goes beyond the immediate election because a politician who buys votes with public or private funds is unlikely to regard public office as a platform for service.
“When a mandate is purchased, governance becomes an investment recovery project. The politician who spends billions buying votes will naturally seek ways of recovering that money from the public treasury,” Onwubiko warned.
The association expressed particular concern that widespread poverty and economic hardship are being exploited by political actors to turn vulnerable citizens into unwilling participants in an electoral marketplace.
HURIWA, however, stressed that the primary responsibility must rest on political actors and their financial sponsors who introduce money into the electoral process, rather than treating economically desperate voters as the principal villains.
The rights group therefore challenged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and security agencies to demonstrate that their commitment to electoral integrity extends beyond public declarations.
HURIWA demands the investigation and prosecution of the financiers, organisers and political beneficiaries of vote-buying networks, rather than merely arresting individual voters who accept inducements.
The association also urged INEC to strengthen mechanisms for detecting and documenting vote buying before, during and after elections, while ensuring that election officials remain independent and impartial.
HURIWA said the lessons from Osun must be urgently applied to preparations for the 2027 general elections.
It warned that if the country fails to decisively confront vote buying now, the practice could become so sophisticated and deeply entrenched that elections would effectively be determined by financial capacity rather than the freely expressed will of citizens.
“Nigeria cannot continue to hold elections where votes are negotiated, sold and purchased while pretending that constitutional democracy is functioning normally.”
HURIWA therefore calls on political parties, civil society organisations, the media and Nigerians to reject the normalisation of vote buying and expose every attempt to commercialise the ballot.
The association reiterates its earlier position that vote buying is not merely an electoral offence—it is an assault on the sovereignty of the people and a form of electoral terrorism capable of destroying constitutional democracy from within.
The 2027 elections must not become an auction in which the highest bidder purchases the future of millions of Nigerians.

By George Mgbeleke

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigeria Police Force, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), political parties and their agents that the Saturday August 15th 2026 Osun State governorship election must not be turned into another theatre of electoral violence, intimidation, vote-buying and institutional manipulation.

In a statement signed by the group national coordinator,Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko,HURIWA insists that there must be zero tolerance for armed thuggery, ballot snatching, vote-buying, voter intimidation, harassment of opposition supporters and every other form of electoral criminality before, during and after the election.

The rights group is particularly concerned about the conduct of security and law-enforcement agencies. The Police and EFCC must convince Nigerians that they are institutions of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and not enforcement arms of the ruling APC or any other political party.

HURIWA will not accept a situation in which security agencies selectively arrest, intimidate or harass members and supporters of opposition parties while political actors aligned with the government are allowed to operate with impunity.

INEC MUST NOT FAIL NIGERIANS AGAIN

HURIWA calls on INEC to understand the enormous responsibility before it. The Osun election is not merely another off-cycle election; it is a critical test of whether the commission’s current leadership is genuinely committed to conducting elections in which the votes of Nigerians count.

INEC must therefore demonstrate absolute independence, transparency, professionalism and impartiality throughout the process.

The commission must ensure that every eligible voter is allowed to vote without fear or intimidation and that the collation and declaration of results are conducted in accordance with the law.

Most importantly, the electorate must not be shut out of the results-transmission process.

HURIWA demands maximum transparency in the electronic transmission and publication of polling-unit results. Nigerians must be able to monitor the movement of results from polling units through the various stages of collation.

Any attempt to create an opaque results-management system will inevitably fuel suspicion and undermine confidence in the election.

OSUN MUST NOT BECOME A TESTING GROUND FOR ELECTORAL MANIPULATION

HURIWA warns political actors against turning Osun State into a battlefield for political desperation.

The organisation will strongly oppose any attempt by politicians to deploy armed thugs, state-sponsored intimidation, financial inducement or security agencies to subvert the will of the people.

Political power must come from the ballot box and not from the barrel of a gun, bags of money or the manipulation of electoral institutions.

We therefore call on all political parties and candidates to sign up to peaceful and transparent elections and to reject violence before their supporters reject democracy itself.

THE 2027 QUESTION STARTS IN OSUN

HURIWA considers the Osun election a major litmus test for INEC ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Nigerians are watching the current Chairman and National Commissioners of INEC closely. The manner in which the commission handles Osun will significantly shape public confidence in its preparedness and willingness to conduct credible presidential, governorship and legislative elections in 2027.

If INEC cannot guarantee transparency in an off-cycle election, Nigerians will understandably question its capacity to conduct a credible nationwide election.

The commission must therefore use Osun to demonstrate that Nigeria’s electoral democracy is moving forward, not backwards.

HURIWA demands that:

– INEC guarantees a transparent, credible, free and fair election.
– The Police and EFCC maintain strict political neutrality.
– Security agencies protect voters rather than intimidate them.
– Vote-buying and financial inducement are aggressively prosecuted.
– Armed thugs and electoral criminals are arrested and prosecuted irrespective of political affiliation.
– Polling-unit results are transparently transmitted and made accessible to the electorate.
– Political parties respect the rules and commit to peaceful conduct.
– No candidate or political party is allowed to manipulate state institutions for electoral advantage.

HURIWA will not be deceived by cosmetic assurances of electoral neutrality.

The people of Osun State have the constitutional right to freely choose their leaders, and nobody — whether politician, security officer or electoral official — has the right to steal that choice from them.

Anything short of a transparent, credible, free and fair election in Osun State will be a dangerous assault on Nigeria’s democracy and will be rejected by Nigerians.

By Stacey Ukaobasi

One of the things I appreciate most about being a Nigerian is our unique sense of humor. It is more than just telling jokes,it is a way of communicating,connecting, teaching and coping with life.Humor is deeply woven into our everyday interactions.

Nigerians have a special way of using sarcasm, playful teasing, exaggeration, and clever expressions when we communicate. It is something many of us grow up with from childhood.Even our parents are masters of sarcasm. A Nigerian parent can correct you, warn you, or make a serious point while adding a humorous twist that makes you laugh and still understand the message.

This style of communication becomes part of who we are. We learn to read between the lines, understand playful insults, and appreciate jokes that may not make sense to someone outside our culture.

Living abroad has made me appreciate this even more. In America, conversations can sometimes feel different. People communicate in a more direct and serious way, and the humor that comes naturally to Nigerians may not always be understood the same way. Sometimes, if I speak in my natural Nigerian way with sarcasm, jokes, more playful expressions,the other person may take it literally. Instead of laughing together,you may find yourself explaining the joke.
That is one of the interesting experiences of living between cultures.You realize that humor is not just about words; it is about shared experiences, background, and understanding.

Anyone who has visited a Nigerian social media comment section knows exactly what I mean.The comments can turn into a comedy show. Nigerians have a way of creating hilarious responses, using cultural references, local expressions, and witty observations that will have other Nigerians laughing out loud. Someone who is not familiar with our culture may read the same comments and wonder what everyone finds so funny.

Beyond humor, Nigerians are also known for their joyful spirit. Despite the challenges of poor governance, economic struggles, and everyday frustrations, Nigerians remain some of the most lively and energetic people you will meet. We are very, very happy people.

Our happiness does not come from having a perfect life. It comes from resilience. Nigerians have learned how to find joy in difficult moments, celebrate small victories, and create happiness wherever we are. We laugh, dance, celebrate, and encourage one another even when life is not easy.

You can see this spirit everywhere in weddings,family gatherings, churches,workplaces, and communities.Nigerians have a way of bringing energy into a room. We turn ordinary moments into celebrations and difficult experiences into stories that can make people laugh.

Of course, like every country, Nigeria has its challenges, and serious conflicts do happen. But in everyday interactions,many Nigerians have a unique ability to disagree, tease each other, laugh, and move on.If you see two Nigerians truly holding deep anger toward each other,it is usually because something very serious has happened.

Our humor is more than entertainment. It is a form of resilience.Our sarcasm is a language of connection. Our laughter is a reminder that difficult circumstances do not have to take away our joy.

Living abroad has made me realize how special this part of Nigerian culture is. Sometimes I miss the effortless conversations where everyone understands the jokes, the expressions, and the meaning behind the words without needing an explanation.

The Nigerian spirit is something beautiful: the ability to laugh through challenges, find happiness in everyday life, and bring light into the lives of others. It is a culture built on community, humor and an unshakable ability to keep smiling.

Ms. Stacey Ukaobasi, a Nigerian-American, is the founder of Forum for child rights promotion (Nigeria).