#EkitiDecides2026: APC Accused Of N15,000 ‘See And Buy’ Vote-Buying Scheme As 76-Year-Old Voter, Others Disenfranchised In Ado-Ekiti

Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State — Allegations of massive vote buying and voter disenfranchisement marred the local government election in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Saturday, as voters and observers accused members of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of openly inducing voters with cash payments in what was described as a “See and Buy” operation.

At Ward 4, Polling Unit 1, in Ado-West Local Government Area of Ado-Ekiti, Afrika Eyes observed individuals stationed around the polling unit to monitor voters after they cast their ballots.

According to observations at the polling unit, voters were allegedly directed to move to a designated area after voting, where an APC agent and a chubby woman dressed in blue were reportedly distributing cash payments to voters.

Witnesses alleged that the payments ranged up to N15,000 per voter under a system they referred to as “See and Buy,” in which voters were allegedly monitored before receiving money.

The situation reportedly unfolded in full public view as electoral activities continued at the polling unit.

Meanwhile, at Ward 6, Polling Unit 2, also in Ado-West Local Government Area, a 76-year-old voter identified as Omi-Ata Kayode was unable to cast his vote after the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) machine failed to recognise his facial features.

Kayode, who reportedly arrived at the polling unit before any other voter and was the first person on the queue, remained unable to vote while the alleged vote-buying activities continued around the area.

Witnesses at the polling unit told Afrika  Eyes that despite repeated attempts, the BVAS machine failed to authenticate the elderly voter’s facial identity, effectively disenfranchising him from participating in the election.

The alleged vote-buying operation at the polling unit was also said to involve payments of up to N15,000 to voters under the same “See and Buy” arrangement.

In a separate complaint, a voter identified as Aderongbe Bamidele told Afrika Eyes that he had been at his polling unit since morning but was unable to locate his name on the voters’ register.

“I have been here since morning, but I have not seen my name,” Bamidele said.

The allegations of vote buying and voter disenfranchisement come amid concerns over the credibility of the local government election in Ekiti State.