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By-elections across 12 states marred by violence, cash-for-votes, and disruptions.
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Arrests in Ogun and Kaduna spark disputes between parties and police.
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Kano records 288 arrests; APC calls for cancellation of polls.
Violence, vote-buying, and low voter turnout overshadowed by-elections on Saturday in 12 states, where the Independent National Electoral Commission sought to fill vacant Senate and House of Representatives seats.
According to INEC, 3.5 million registered voters across 32 local governments, 356 wards, and nearly 7,000 polling units were eligible. But the exercise in states such as Ogun, Kaduna, Kano, Enugu, and Anambra was fraught with irregularities.
In Ogun, police arrested two PDP chieftains, including state chairman Abayomi Tella, alongside suspected INEC staff allegedly caught with large sums of cash for vote-buying.
In a viral video, one suspect was heard saying, “These people, including two INEC staff, were arrested. Rather than doing the right thing, they were found hobnobbing with politicians, and this huge amount of money was found on the INEC man.”
Tella denied wrongdoing, saying, “I don’t know anything about this money you’re talking about and I am still waiting for you to tell me why I am here.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, confirmed the arrests and ordered a discreet investigation. Meanwhile, sporadic shootings, ballot snatching, and intimidation disrupted voting in Remo, Ipara, Isara, and Sagamu.
PDP candidate Bola Oluwole declared, “There was no by-election here in Ogun State. They beat people, and if you voted for PDP, they would tear it.” But the governor’s aide, Kayode Akinmade, countered that “the opposition party is only being mischievous and raising unsubstantiated allegations.”
In Kaduna, a suspected vote-buyer, Shehu Patangi, was caught with N25.9m cash, allegedly for bribing voters. Police spokesman Mansir Hassan said Patangi admitted the money was for inducement. But state PDP chairman Edward Marshal insisted the funds were legitimate: “When they picked up our members, they also confiscated money meant for our agents’ allowances and operations on election day.”
In Kano, police arrested 288 armed thugs attempting to disrupt voting, recovering pump-action guns, cutlasses, and knives. The APC, citing widespread violence, demanded cancellation of the Shanono/Bagwai constituency poll and Ghari rerun.
National publicity secretary Felix Morka warned that “proceeding with the election in the atmosphere of brigandage and violent voter intimidation will be against democratic dictates of free, fair and peaceful election.”
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In Enugu, voting failed to take place at Uwani Secondary School despite large turnout, as sensitive materials were unavailable. State REC Chukwuemeka Chukwu lamented: “This is the fourth time this by-election has been attempted without success.
The people of Enugu deserve a fair election.” Protests broke out, with the PDP accusing rivals of interference. LP officials also decried the lack of transparency.
In Anambra, Governor Chukwuma Soludo cast his vote peacefully and praised INEC’s conduct, noting “everything is going well. No rancour, no fighting.” But he accused APC’s candidate of deploying thugs who allegedly assaulted the state environment commissioner.
Despite security deployments nationwide, widespread incidents of intimidation, violence, and disputed arrests marred the credibility of the polls.
