Provide proof of officers aiding vote-buying in Ekiti gov poll — Police

The Nigeria Police Force has urged residents and observers alleging electoral malpractice during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State to present concrete evidence, rather than relying solely on photographs.

In a statement released to respond to a viral image circulating on social media, the Force’s New Media Officer, Aliyu Giwa, said police officers seen in the photo at a polling unit in Ikere Local Government Area were carrying out their constitutional duty of providing security.

The image, posted by journalist Oseni Rufai, showed two policewomen near an open polling booth, with claim that they were “helping with vote buying.”

The post sparked widespread criticism and accusations against the police.

Reacting via his X handle on Sunday, Giwa said, “Allegations of vote buying are serious and should not be based solely on a photograph. The image shows police officers at a polling unit carrying out their constitutional duty of maintaining security.”

He added, “If there is evidence that any officer aided electoral malpractice, such evidence should be presented for investigation. Facts strengthen democracy and assumptions weaken it.”

The reaction comes after INEC declared Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress as the winner of the poll.

The governor was re-elected after polling 319,224 votes, defeating his closest rivals, Olumayokun Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party and Dare Bejide of the African Democratic Congress, across the state’s 16 local government areas.

On Saturday, there were also reports of vote-buying allegations by opposition parties in parts of Ekiti State during the election.

However, the Nigeria Police Force, President Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress have maintained that voting proceeded peacefully, with the police saying officers were deployed to polling units and other strategic locations to ensure public safety and order.