A striking absence marked Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State, as agents from at least eight political parties were nowhere to be found at several polling units across Ejigbo—leaving only three parties to carry the monitoring burden.
With 17 political parties fielding candidates in the hotly contested race, voters and officials at multiple units observed that only the All Progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), and Accord Party had representatives on the ground. Notably absent were agents from the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), African Action Congress (AAC), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), African Democratic Party (ADP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and Boot Party.
At Unit 009, Open Space opposite Alasepo Food Canteen, Ward 001, Ejigbo, the trio of APC, ADC, and Accord agents were seen vigilantly monitoring accreditation and voting—while the empty spaces where other parties’ representatives should have sat were conspicuous.
The same pattern played out across other polling units in Ejigbo, as voters turned out in steady numbers to cast their ballots, with only a handful of agents observing the process on behalf of their candidates.
This widespread absenteeism raises serious questions about grassroots engagement and oversight by the affected parties. Party agents serve as the eyes and ears of candidates at polling booths, playing a critical role in detecting irregularities and safeguarding the integrity of the vote. Their absence leaves a significant gap in electoral transparency—and could prove costly come collation time.
