Bye-elections: PDP, NNPP dispute results, allege manipulation, voter intimidation

The aftermath of Saturday’s by-elections across several Nigerian states has been mired in controversy, with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) rejecting declared results and accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of collusion with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In Adamawa, the PDP said it would head to court to contest the Ganye constituency by-election. The state chairman, Shehu Tahir, alleged that security operatives worked in favour of the APC. He accused Assistant Inspector General of Police, Taiwo Adeleke, of shielding APC leaders, including Mustapha Salisu, the party’s North-East vice chairman, who was allegedly found with election materials.

“When I called the AIG to raise concerns, he admitted Salisu had the items but insisted they were not used. This shows clear complicity,” Tahir said, warning that unchecked electoral malpractice could undermine democracy ahead of the 2027 polls.

Although the state police command confirmed a box with INEC’s name was recovered from Salisu’s vehicle, it claimed INEC officials disowned the material. The APC, meanwhile, applauded INEC for conducting what it described as a transparent process.

In Kano, the NNPP rejected results of the Tsanyawa/Ghari constituency by-election, accusing INEC of manipulation. Party chairman, Hashimu Dungurawa, faulted the electoral umpire’s decision to declare results at its state headquarters instead of the constituency collation centre, saying the move created room for tampering.

“This disenfranchised our candidate and the people who voted. Only presiding officers at polling units have the legal authority to cancel results, not INEC headquarters,” he argued, vowing that the party would resist what it described as a stolen mandate.

In Edo, the PDP also dismissed the outcome of the Edo Central senatorial and Ovia federal constituency by-elections, in which APC candidates were declared winners. The party’s election secretary, Chris Nehikhare, alleged that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was deliberately sabotaged to favour the APC.

“What played out was not a technical glitch but a coordinated effort to manipulate results. It is an embarrassment to democracy,” Nehikhare insisted.

Similarly, the Jigawa PDP rejected APC’s victory in the Babura/Garki federal constituency, alleging voter intimidation, vote buying, and abuse of state resources. “Such acts undermine democratic principles,” said PDP publicity secretary, Umar Kyari, who pledged to pursue legal redress.

Adding to the wave of disputes, Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Yusuf Abdullahi-Ata, demanded cancellation of the Bagwai/Shanono state assembly by-election in Kano, citing widespread violence. He alleged that armed thugs disrupted voting in many polling centres, preventing residents from casting their ballots.

“The right to vote freely is the bedrock of democracy. An election marred by intimidation cannot stand,” Abdullahi-Ata said, calling on INEC to reschedule the exercise and ensure accountability for those involved in the violence.

Despite the growing rejection from opposition parties, the APC maintained that the elections were competitive and credible. However, the multiple allegations of rigging, sabotage, and intimidation have once again cast doubts on INEC’s neutrality and raised concerns about the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of future polls.