Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said none of the major political parties that contested the 2026 Osun State governorship election can claim innocence over alleged vote-buying during the poll. Fayose made the comment while speaking on TVC News’ Politics Tonight, on Tuesday, August 18, where he assessed the……
Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has said none of the major political parties that contested the 2026 Osun State governorship election can claim innocence over alleged vote-buying during the poll.
Fayose made the comment while speaking on TVC News’ Politics Tonight, on Tuesday, August 18, where he assessed the conduct of the August 15 election and the responsibility of political parties, candidates and voters for electoral malpractice.
The former governor specifically mentioned the All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Accord Party, saying available evidence showed that supporters of opposing political camps were involved in sharing money during the election.
“You see, it’s mere desperation. Mere desperation,” Fayose said when asked about the responsibility political parties and candidates should bear for electoral violence and malpractice.
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He said reports from the election indicated that the practice of vote-buying was not limited to one political camp.
“For instance, I was listening to some people talking about vote buying by the two sides. The two sides took to the field to do it any which way,” Fayose said.
According to him, footage aired during the election showed security operatives arresting individuals allegedly involved in distributing money to voters.
“The two sides clearly, going by what we saw on the television on Saturday, police arrested the two sides sharing money. So don’t come and tell me they are saints both ways,” he said.
Fayose also recalled allegations previously made by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against political actors over the transfer of funds to individuals ahead of elections.
He said such allegations further demonstrated the need for political actors to stop presenting themselves as innocent parties in the electoral process.
“Don’t let us come here and paint to the public. We are saints, either the APC or the PDP or their Accord party. Nigerians as a whole, the leaders and the electorate, we are all guilty,” Fayose said.
The former governor argued that electoral malpractice should be treated as a systemic problem involving both politicians and voters.
“We have a lot to put right,” he said.
“When somebody that is taking one way it is the government. But when you are doing it as a citizen it is right. No. It is the system. It’s systemic. It is a problem that has to be addressed.”
Fayose also rejected the suggestion that politicians alone were responsible for vote-buying, pointing to voters who accept money during elections.
He said addressing the problem would require a broader examination of the conduct of political actors and the electorate, rather than blaming one side.
