Labour Party, Tinubu’s minister condemn Saturday’s by-elections, ADC calls for investigation
By Emma Ogbuehi
Even as President Bola Tinubu has hailed the conduct of last Saturday’s by-elections held across the country, the Labour Party (LP) has expressed deep concern, describing the exercise as a significant setback to Nigeria’s democratic journey.
Tinubu had earlier congratulated all the winners of the by-elections in 16 constituencies across 12 states.
A statement by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, stated that the President commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the hitch-free elections, mostly devoid of violence.
But in a statement issued by Ken Asogwa, Senior Special Adviser (Media) to the Acting National Chairman of LP, Senator Nenadi Usman, the party alleged irregularities including vote-buying, electoral violence, and lack of transparency in the process.
According to the LP, the by-elections — conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) — fell short of acceptable democratic standards.
“What transpired across Nigeria in the name of by-elections amounted to a mockery of democracy. From Kaduna to Anambra, Ogun to Oyo and Kano, reports indicated incidents of vote-buying, voter intimidation, and logistical lapses,” the statement read.
The party called for urgent reforms and improved oversight in the electoral process, warning that failure to act may impact the credibility of the 2027 general elections.
“If INEC cannot conduct limited off-season elections with transparency and credibility, it raises serious concerns about its ability to manage a nationwide general election in 2027,” the party stated.
The LP urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take decisive steps to safeguard the integrity of Nigeria’s democratic institutions and processes.
“The credibility of our electoral system is fundamental to the stability of our democracy. It is imperative that the government addresses growing public concern about electoral transparency and security,” the party concluded.
No election in Bagwai/Shanono, APC tells INEC
Speaking in the same vein, APC in Kano State has rejected the outcome of the by-election in Bagwai/Shanono State Constituency, saying there was no election in the constituency.
The Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata, addressed journalists in Kano on Sunday on behalf of the stakeholders of the APC in the state.
He accused the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano State of importing armed thugs from neighbouring states and countries to intimidate voters and disrupt the exercise.
He alleged that despite a peace accord signed by political parties ahead of the election, the NNPP breached the agreement by mobilising thugs to unleash terror on innocent voters.
“On the day of the election, as early as 5am, Shanono and Bagwai local government areas were invaded by thousands of armed thugs wielding dangerous weapons, including guns, allegedly recruited from Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi and beyond,” Ata said.
According to him, residents who sighted strange faces in their communities fled their homes in fear, relocating to neighbouring Gwarzo and Bichi local government areas. He noted that the APC candidate himself was attacked at his residence.
Ata further claimed that the NNPP thugs hijacked ballot papers and result sheets, stuffed ballots, and allocated votes to their party in the absence of genuine voters, insisting that “no credible election took place in Shanono/Bagwai.”
He added: “The people of Bagwai/Shanono, who have been patiently waiting for the by-election since the demise of their representative, Hon. Halilu Ibrahim Kundila in April last year, were disenfranchised, traumatised and chased away from their homes.”
The minister called on INEC to cancel the election and fix a fresh date for a free, fair and transparent poll. He also urged security agencies to prosecute all those arrested in connection with the violence.
While appealing to APC supporters to remain calm, he stressed that the integrity of the electoral process must not be compromised.
“How can we claim to uphold democracy when citizens are chased away from their homes hours before the election? An election marred by violence is no election at all,” Ata queried.
ADC urges INEC to investigate alleged irregularities
Meanwhile, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has called on INEC to investigate the alleged irregularities.
ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this in a statement Sunday in Abuja.
Abdullahi also urged the commission to sanction any official found to have compromised and take necessary steps to restore public confidence in the nation’s electoral process.
He alleged that the by-elections were marked by irregularities, including reported violence, vote buying, manipulation and other administrative lapses.
“In one state, a vote buyer was caught with N25.9 million intended to procure and corrupt the will of the people.
“In another, election officials were themselves implicated in similar inducements.
“This is fast becoming the political culture of our electoral process,” he said.
Abdullahi also expressed concern about the failure of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) in some polling units.
“Nigerians deserve elections that command the implicit confidence of every citizen and respect of the rest of the world,” he said.
Abdullahi said that excuses should not be allowed from INEC, noting that the by-elections were a representation of what might happen in the 2027 general elections.
He, however, urged Nigerians not to judge the party by its performance in the by-elections, noting that ADC did not field candidates for most of the positions contested for during the exercise.
