Allegations of vote buying surfaced on Saturday at a polling unit linked to Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji as residents participated in the governorship election.
The claims emerged at Polling Unit 003, located opposite the governor’s family compound in Okelele, Ikogosi, Ikogosi-Ekiti, in Ekiti West Local Government Area, where voters turned out to cast their ballots.
According to observations by The Whistler, concerns were raised after a voter, identified as Oladimeji Nafiu Abiodun, alleged that he received ₦5,000 to take part in the voting process. 
Abiodun further claimed that the payment was coordinated through associates of the governor, although he did not provide evidence to support the allegation. The claim has not been independently verified, and there is no proof directly linking Governor Oyebanji or his campaign to the allegation. The development came amid heightened scrutiny of activities at the polling unit, which is situated close to the governor’s family residence. Earlier reports indicated that only the polling agent of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), identified as Ogundele Oluwatosin, was present to monitor proceedings during accreditation and voting.
Security operatives deployed to the area, including personnel of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), stated that they did not observe any incident of vote buying during their duty at the polling unit. They maintained that monitoring and enforcement of electoral offences fall under the responsibility of officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which oversees the conduct of elections and voter accreditation.
Officials of INEC at the polling unit reportedly declined to comment when approached regarding the allegation. The governorship election featured incumbent Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the APC, who is seeking re-election, alongside candidates from several political parties including Wole Oluyede of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Oyebanji Olajuyin of the Labour Party (LP), Ambassador Oluwadare Patrick Bejide of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), and other contenders from parties such as the Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party, Action Democratic Party (ADP), Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Boot
Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), and Young Progressives Party (YPP)
