By Ogunwale Martins | Politics Correspondent, HillsNews
September 27, 2026 | Osun State, Nigeria
Pelumi Olajengbesi, the Accord Party candidate for the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency in the 2027 House of Representatives election, has raised concerns over alleged attempts to influence voters in Ijesa North through cash payments and traditional oath-taking.
In a statement titled “Ijesa North Is Not for Sale,” Olajengbesi alleged that he had received reports of voters being offered ₦20,000 each in exchange for pledging electoral support to the constituency’s serving representative.
According to the politician, the reported arrangement also involved an alleged requirement for recipients to swear an oath before the god of iron as a demonstration of their commitment.
HillsNews has not independently verified these allegations. No evidence establishing that the alleged payments or oath-taking occurred was available to the newsroom at the time of the original report.
Allegations Raise Questions About Electoral Conduct
Olajengbesi claimed that the alleged activities were taking place across wards within the constituency as political preparations intensified ahead of the 2027 general election.
He described the reported practice as unacceptable and urged residents to make their electoral decisions without financial inducement or intimidation.
The allegation raises two distinct questions: whether money is being offered to influence voting decisions and whether traditional oath-taking is being used to pressure residents into making political commitments.
Both claims require independent investigation.
The statement does not identify specific locations where the alleged incidents occurred, provide the identities of recipients or include documentary evidence supporting the claims.
It also does not establish that Olajengbesi personally witnessed any of the alleged incidents.
These limitations are important because accusations of electoral misconduct can affect public perceptions of candidates and political parties, particularly during an election campaign.
Political Context: The Oriade/Obokun Contest
The controversy comes amid political activities ahead of the 2027 National Assembly election in Osun State.
Olajengbesi is contesting the Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency seat under the Accord Party platform.
His candidacy forms part of the developing political contest for representation of communities within the constituency at the National Assembly.
Earlier media reports documented his emergence as the Accord Party candidate and his intention to challenge the serving lawmaker, Oluwole Oke.
The upcoming election will determine who represents the constituency in the House of Representatives for the next legislative term.
However, the existence of political competition does not establish the truth of allegations made by either side.
Why the Alleged Oath-Taking Matters
The reference to oath-taking introduces an additional dimension to the reported vote-buying allegation.
While financial inducement concerns the use of money to influence electoral choices, an oath allegedly linked to a voting commitment raises questions about coercion and the freedom of individuals to make independent decisions.
The Nigerian electoral framework prohibits certain forms of bribery and undue influence connected with elections.
Whether any particular conduct amounts to an electoral offence depends on the established facts and applicable provisions of the law.
In the present case, HillsNews has not obtained sufficient evidence to determine whether any such conduct occurred.
Establishing the facts would require information from individuals with direct knowledge, relevant documentation and responses from those accused.
Response From the Accused Lawmaker
The allegations concern the constituency’s serving representative, identified in earlier political reporting as Oluwole Oke.
The material available for the original HillsNews report did not contain a response from the lawmaker or his representatives.
A response is necessary to provide readers with a fuller account of the dispute.
HillsNews has not established whether the lawmaker has formally addressed the specific allegations contained in Olajengbesi’s September statement.
Any verified response should be incorporated into an updated version of this report.
What Voters Should Know Ahead of the 2027 Election
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled Nigeria’s presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, under its revised electoral timetable.
The House of Representatives election for Oriade/Obokun Federal Constituency falls within that electoral process.
As campaigns continue, allegations involving voter inducement, intimidation and electoral misconduct remain matters requiring careful examination.
Residents who encounter suspected electoral offences can seek guidance from INEC or relevant law-enforcement authorities on appropriate reporting procedures.
For the public, distinguishing between campaign statements, eyewitness accounts and independently established facts is essential to understanding political developments.
What Remains Unanswered
Several questions remain unresolved following Olajengbesi’s statement:
- In which communities or wards did the alleged incidents occur?
- Are there individuals willing to provide firsthand accounts?
- Is there documentary or other independently verifiable evidence of the alleged payments?
- What is the response of the serving lawmaker?
- Have any formal complaints been submitted to the relevant authorities?
Answers to these questions would help establish whether the allegations have a factual basis.
For now, the reported ₦20,000 payments and oath-taking requirements remain allegations attributed to Olajengbesi rather than verified findings.
HillsNews will update this report when credible additional evidence or an authenticated response becomes available.
Sources and Further Reading
1. Original Facebook Video
The original Facebook Reel referenced in preparing this report is available here:
The video is provided as source material for the reported allegations. Its inclusion does not constitute independent verification of the claims.
2. HillsNews — Original Report (September 27, 2026)
Ijesa North Is Not for Sale: Pelumi Olajengbesi Raises Alarm Over Alleged Vote Buying.
3. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)
Official information on Nigeria’s electoral laws, regulations and election timetable.
Editor’s Note: This article reports allegations attributed to Pelumi Olajengbesi. HillsNews has not independently verified the alleged ₦20,000 payments or traditional oath-taking. The Facebook video is identified as source material, not conclusive evidence that the reported incidents occurred.