The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday conducted by-elections in 16 constituencies across 13 states, as voters trooped out to elect new representatives for vacant seats in the National and State Assemblies.
The polls, which took place in Jigawa, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Kogi, Niger, Enugu, and Zamfara States, were held to fill legislative vacancies created by the resignation, death, or election of lawmakers into other offices.
Vacant Seats
- Anambra South Senatorial seat became vacant following the death of Senator Ifeanyi Ubah (APC) in July 2024.
- Edo Central seat opened up after Senator Monday Okpebholo (APC) was elected governor of Edo State.
- Federal and State constituencies in Ogun, Jigawa, Kaduna, Oyo, Adamawa, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara also went to the polls.
- In Enugu and Kano, re-run elections were conducted based on court orders.
INEC confirmed that political parties, including the Social Democratic Party (SDP), participated in the elections following a Federal High Court order.
Turnout and Security
In Ogun State, Governor Dapo Abiodun commended INEC for early deployment of materials and the impressive turnout in Sagamu, Ikenne, and Remo North.
In Anambra, Governor Chukwuma Soludo described the process as peaceful, despite thugs attacking the environment commissioner.
In Edo State, Governor Okpebholo also praised the exercise but expressed concern over BVAS delays.
Across many polling units, turnout was impressive, though technical hitches with the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) were reported.
Allegations of Violence and Vote-Buying
- In Zamfara, voting in two polling units at Kasuwar Daji was cancelled after thugs disrupted the process. APC accused the state government of sponsoring the attack.
- In Kaduna, police arrested a suspect, Shehu Patangi, with over ₦25 million cash allegedly meant for vote-buying in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency.
- In Ogun, PDP Chairman Abayomi Tella, two party members, and two INEC officials were arrested with large sums of cash allegedly for voter inducement. The PDP denied the allegations, calling it a ploy to weaken the opposition.
- In Kano, police confirmed the arrest of 288 suspected thugs attempting to disrupt elections in Ghari/Tsanyawa and Bagwai/Shanono constituencies.
Meanwhile, the APC has demanded the cancellation of the Kano elections, citing widespread violence and intimidation.
INEC’s Position
INEC confirmed that results would be uploaded to the Result Viewing Portal (IReV) in real-time, allowing Nigerians to monitor the process.
According to INEC spokesperson Rotimi Oyekanmi:
“After the ballots have been sorted and counted, presiding officers are required to snap a picture of the PU results and upload them to the IReV. Nigerians will have access to see the results as they are posted.”
As of the time of filing this report, results were still trickling in from different constituencies.
Stay tuned to 9am News Nigeria for more Breaking News, Business News, Sports updates And Entertainment Gists.
