Ekiti Polls: Police Demand Concrete Evidence Over Alleged Officer Involvement in Vote-Buying

The Nigeria Police Force has challenged residents and election observers alleging security complicity in electoral malpractice during Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election to forward verifiable proof rather than relying on social media imagery.

The directive follows a viral photograph circulated online showing two female police officers standing near a voting cubicle in Ikere Local Government Area. The image, shared by broadcast journalist Rufai Oseni, included claims that the officers were actively assisting individuals involved in vote-buying, drawing sharp public criticism.

Responding to the controversy on Sunday, the Force New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, stated that allegations of electoral fraud are too severe to be predicated solely on a snapshot. He clarified that the personnel depicted were performing their statutory role of maintaining peace and security at the polling station.

“If there is evidence that any officer aided electoral malpractice, such evidence should be presented for investigation,” Giwa stated, adding that assumptions weaken democratic institutions while verifiable facts reinforce them.

The development coincided with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declaring incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the winner of the poll. Oyebanji secured a second term with 319,224 votes, defeating Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) across all 16 local government areas.

Despite isolated reports and complaints of vote-buying from opposition quarters during Saturday’s exercise, federal authorities, the ruling party, and security agencies have maintained that the election was largely peaceful, orderly, and transparent.