Vote-Buying, Poor Turnout Mar By-Elections Across 12 States
Odekunle Doyin, Alofe Ayomoses, Lukman Babatope
The by-elections conducted on Saturday to fill vacant seats in the Senate and House of Representatives across 12 states were overshadowed by reports of vote-buying, violence, arrests, and low voter turnout.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), a total of 3,553,659 registered voters were eligible to participate across 32 local government areas, 356 wards, and 6,987 polling units nationwide. The polls were necessitated by resignations and deaths of lawmakers.
Kaduna State: N25.9m Cash Seized in Alleged Vote-Buying
In Kaduna, security operatives arrested a man, Shehu Patangi, with ₦25,963,000 cash allegedly meant for vote-buying.
The arrest occurred at a hotel on Turunku Road around 3:30 a.m. by a joint team of the DSS, police, and other agencies.
Patangi reportedly confessed the money was for “election purposes,” though he begged for leniency. The PDP denied the allegation, insisting the funds were “logistics and allowances” for party agents. State chairman Edward Marshal described the arrest as “politically motivated.”
Kano State: 288 Armed Thugs Arrested
The Kano State Police Command confirmed the arrest of 288 suspected political thugs during the by-elections in four LGAs.
They were allegedly caught with guns, cutlasses, knives, and bows and arrows while attempting to disrupt the process.
The APC, through its spokesperson Felix Morka, called for the cancellation of elections in Shanono/Bagwai constituency and the Ghari constituency rerun, alleging widespread intimidation of voters.
Ogun State: PDP Chairman, INEC Staff Arrested
In Ogun State’s Remo Federal Constituency, the polls turned chaotic after security operatives arrested four individuals, including the PDP State Chairman, Abayomi Tella, and two alleged INEC officials.
The suspects were found with large sums of money at a hotel in Iperu-Remo, allegedly meant for vote-buying. A viral video showed security agents interrogating the suspects, accusing them of collusion.
Tella denied wrongdoing, insisting: “I don’t know anything about this money.”
The State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the arrests and said investigations were ongoing.
The PDP, however, condemned the arrests as political intimidation, accusing security agencies of working with the APC to tilt the process. Violence also broke out in Sagamu, Iperu, and Remo North, with reports of ballot box snatching and sporadic gunfire.
Anambra State: Soludo Votes, Describes Election as Peaceful
In Anambra South, the by-election was largely peaceful. Governor Chukwuma Soludo voted at Ofiyi Square, Isuofia, and praised INEC for a well-organized process.
However, Soludo alleged that APC loyalists assaulted Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, in Ezinifite, Nnewi South LGA, warning opponents to “stay in their polling units.”
The election was held to replace the late Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, who died in 2024.
Enugu State: Election Halted Again
In Enugu South Urban Constituency, the by-election was halted for the fourth time due to missing sensitive materials, including result sheets.
The development sparked protests at Uwani Secondary School, the main polling centre, with voters accusing politicians of interference.
INEC’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Chukwuemeka Chukwu, appealed for calm, promising that the rerun would eventually be concluded.
The seat has remained vacant since the tribunal nullified the March 18, 2023, election.
While INEC pushed ahead with the polls to fill legislative vacancies, the process in several states was tainted by alleged vote-buying, violence, arrests, and poor turnout.
Political parties are now demanding investigations, and in some cases, outright cancellation of results.
INEC is yet to release an official statement on the overall conduct and outcome of the by-elections.
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