Nigerians from different walks of life, on Saturday, exercised their voting rights by casting their votes for preferred candidates during the by-elections in 16 constituencies in 12 states to fill vacant legislative seats.
But the by-elections conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were overshadowed by alleged widespread reports of violence, voter’s inducements and mass arrests as security agencies moved to clamp down on irregularities.
The by-elections covered two senatorial districts in Anambra and Edo States, five federal constituencies in Edo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Ogun, and Oyo States, as well as nine state constituencies in Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna (2), Kano, Kogi, Niger, Taraba, and Zamfara States.
INEC also confirmed that court-ordered re-run elections in Enugu South I State Constituency of Enugu State and Ghari/Tsanyawa State Constituency of Kano State will be conducted concurrently.
In Kano State, about 100 suspected political thugs were arrested in Bagwai Local Government Area. The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Kano, Abdu Zango, confirmed the development while addressing journalists.
He said, “All those (suspects) we have seen have been rounded up, and the process is going on peacefully. I am really impressed. Sensitive materials were deployed on time, and polling commenced at about 8:30 a.m. in most places.”
He, however, admitted, that there were “isolated cases of delay due to vehicle breakdowns and attempts by some groups to disrupt movement,” but assured that security forces had restored stability.
Zango added that the police confirmed the arrest of more than 100 suspects, noting that they would face prosecution.
Meanwhile, in Ogun State, security operatives arrested two persons suspected to be INEC staff alongside a politician allegedly planning to buy votes in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area.
In a viral video, the officials—a man and a woman—were seen squatting as they were questioned by security agents.
Some alleged PDP officers were also sighted with them. Security sources said intelligence revealed the officials had earlier been given a large sum of money by party agents for vote-buying.
In Anambra State, open vote-buying dominated the Onitsha North 1 State Constituency by-election.
Reports indicated that the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) distributed N10,000 per voter, while the African Democratic Congress (ADC) gave N5,000 in some polling areas.
The contest, triggered by the death of Hon. Justice Azuka, saw APGA working to replace the late lawmaker, while ADC backed his widow, Mrs. Justina Azuka.
Despite being a constituency election, it has drawn major attention as Governor Chukwuma Soludo seeks to showcase his popularity ahead of November’s governorship poll, while ADC leverages support from Mr. Peter Obi.
“So far the election is going well, I have not witnessed any violence but here in Omagba and Osuma wards, we have seen party agents openly canvassing for votes,” said a source, Mr. Ikechukwu Orji.
“It is not a hidden thing, APGA is paying N10,000 per vote while ADC is paying N5,000.”
Another source, who declined to give his name, alleged: “The money is surely coming from both Soludo and Peter Obi. The candidates themselves do not have such money to spare.”
In Kaduna State, security agents arrested a suspected PDP agent, Shehu Fantagi, with millions of naira allegedly set aside for vote-buying in the Chikun/Kajuru Federal Constituency election.
Police spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, confirmed the arrest in a statement, saying that, “At about 0330hrs of today, we arrested one Shehu Aliyu Patangi at a popular hotel located along Turunku Road in Kaduna metropolis and recovered a total cash sum of Twenty-Five Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Three Thousand Naira (₦25,963,000) from the suspect, believed to be earmarked for the purpose of inducing voters to compromise the electoral process.”
Hassan added that the suspect confessed to the crime and pleaded for leniency.
The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State Command, Rabiu Muhammad, warned: “Anyone, regardless of status, found attempting to undermine the electoral process will face the full wrath of the law.”
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has demanded the immediate cancellation of the Kano by-election, citing violence, intimidation, and disruption.
The party alleged that armed thugs forced voters to flee and overwhelmed security operatives.
“The credibility of the polls had already been compromised,” APC declared, warning that continuing with the exercise “would undermine the principles of democracy” and amount to legitimizing “voter intimidation and violent disruption.”
