.Commends INEC, Laments Low Turnout
By Abbas Jimoh
ABUJA: The Kimpact Development Initiative KDI has raised concern over widespread vote buying, voter apathy and isolated cases of violence during Saturday’s bye-elections held across 12 states of the federation.
Speaking at a media briefing in Abuja where he presented a preliminary report on the polls, KDI’s Executive Director, Mr Bukola Idowu, said that while the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC deserved commendation for improvements in the conduct of the elections, issues of low turnout, delayed commencement of voting, and inducement of voters posed serious threats to electoral credibility.
“KDI’s observation so far indicates that voter turnout has been generally low across the polling units monitored. This trend raises concerns about citizen participation in the electoral process and emphasises the need for sustained voter engagement and confidence-building measures to strengthen democratic participation,” Idowu said.
According to him, the bye-elections were held in Adamawa, Edo, Kaduna, Ogun, Oyo, Jigawa, Kano, Anambra, Kogi, Taraba, Niger, and Zamfara states, with reruns in Enugu and Kano, covering 32 local government areas, 356 wards and nearly 7,000 polling units. About 3.5 million registered voters were eligible to participate.
Idowu said real-time data from 364 trained observers under KDI’s Nigeria Election Violence Report (NEVR) Project, supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), showed that security agencies largely performed their duties with professionalism. “KDI notes that security agencies largely conducted themselves with professionalism during the ongoing bye-election. Except for the incident recorded in Kogi State, there were no reports of interference in the electoral process. We commend the security personnel for their efforts in maintaining order and ensuring a generally peaceful atmosphere at most polling units observed,” he said.
However, the KDI boss lamented widespread vote trading across polling units. “The inducements offered to voters ranged from cash payments (from N4000 upwards) to material items, including food and snacks. There was also the verified report of a vote trader who was arrested with over 25-million-naira cash in Kaduna State. This practice undermines the integrity of the electoral process, as it compromises the ability of citizens to freely exercise their franchise and make independent choices,” Idowu warned.
On INEC’s performance, Idowu acknowledged the functionality of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), which he said worked effectively in most polling units. “Only a negligible number of PUs reported minor malfunctions, mostly linked to network challenges. In most of these cases, the issues were quickly resolved, allowing the process to continue,” he said.
He, however, expressed concern over delays in the commencement of voting. According to him, only a few polling units opened between 8:30am and 8:45am, while most commenced between 8:45am and 10:00am. “As of 10:35am, elections had yet to begin in several areas. Notably, in Kujama and Nasarawa registration areas of Kaduna State, the election commenced late due to the late arrival of election officials and a late setup,” Idowu stated.
The group also reported incidents of violence in Kogi, Anambra and Enugu states. “In Kogi State for example, there were serious disruptions and records of intimidation at the Registration Area Centre (RAC) for Okura State Constituency, located at Our Lady of School in Ayingba. Security agents, together with political thugs reportedly affiliated with a political party (APC), cordoned off the RAC, preventing the deployment of election materials and ad hoc staff. Sporadic gunshots were observed around the facility, and party agents attempting to access the centre were violently assaulted. In one case, the agent of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) was beaten so severely that he required hospitalisation,” Idowu narrated.
KDI further cited ballot stuffing in Kogi, voter suppression in Kaduna, and intimidation of officials in Edo and Anambra. “Also, in Anambra, there were credible reports of the relocation of PUs from wards Iseke, Lili, Mbosi, Ubuluisiuzer, Azia and Osimoru to Ihiala LGA secretarial. The Enugu State narrative is not far from the aforementioned, reports indicate that a party agent of the APC was attacked at Enugu South Urban, Ward 5, Polling Unit 8. Additionally, in Sharuruwa, Shanono Local Government Area of Kaduna State, there are disturbing reports of voter suppression, intimidation, and harassment,” he said.
Idowu stressed that these developments called for urgent reforms to restore public trust. “When votes are commodified, the outcome of the election ceases to reflect the genuine will of the people and instead becomes a product of financial or material influence,” he added.
